RACEALONG 281 



would start with the mares. Excursion trains were 

 run from all points, and over 7,000 people were pres- 

 ent. The Maid took all three heats, but Occident 

 compelled her to trot in 2:201/2, 2:20l^, 2:22. 



The Sacramento people went wild over the result, 

 as their favorite was the fastest in the State, either 

 trotter or pacer, and he was owned by a resident 

 of the capitol city, Governor Stanford. 



In appreciation of that fact the State Fair di- 

 rectors of 1873 offered a piece of plate valued at 

 $2,000 for any horse beating the best time on rec- 

 ord in California. It was a cinch that Occident 

 would win that plate, as the fastest record of that 

 day was made by Sam Purdy, 2:23V2- On Septem- 

 ber 17 Occident trotted in 2:16% equalling the 

 world's record which was at that time held by Gold- 

 smith Maid. 



The following year Occident defeated Judge Ful- 

 lerton in races at San Francisco and in 1878 when 

 he was fifteen years old he again defeated Judge 

 Fullerton and Pat Hunt at Sacramento. 



By 1880 Governor Stanford had estabhshed Palo 

 Alto and had a number of good colts by Electioneer. 

 He suggested to the California State fair directors 

 that they offer a $400 gold cup and a purse of $2,000 

 for three-year-old trotters. The directors accepted 

 the suggestion and the first Occident Stake was 

 raced September 20, 1881. There were five entries, 

 among them Palo Alto colt, Fred Low. There was 

 but one starter, Albert W. by Electioneer. He had 

 a walk-over in 2:54. The previous week at San 



