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The Newcastle Show, 1908. 
Show of 1887. 
The previous Show at Newcastle was, as will be remem- 
bered by many, held during the Mining and Industrial 
Exhibition of 1887, and was honoured by the presence of 
H.M. The King (as Prince of Wales) and bis two sons, the 
present Prince of Wales and the late Duke of Clarence and 
Avondale, who during the week were the guests of the late 
Viscount Ridley, at Blagdon Hall. 
It was in 1887 that the Society inaugurated the Spring 
Show of Thoroughbred Stallions. Five equal premiums of 
200Z. each were offered, together with a Special Gold Medal, 
for thoroughbred stallions (3 years old and upwards) suitable 
for getting hunters and other half-bred horses, subject to the 
condition that each stallion winning a premium should serve 
not less than 50 half-bred mares, if required, during the 
season, and should stand or travel (at the owner’s option) in 
such parts of Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland, and 
Westmorland as should be specified at a fee not exceeding 
50s. for each mare, except to Members of the Society, to whom 
the fee would be 21. A range of buildings erected in con- 
nection with the Mining Exhibition was utilised for the 
purpose of the Show, which took place on January 25, 1887. 
Forty-five horses were entered, seven of these however were 
sent for exhibition only and not for competition. Later 
in the year 1887, the Royal Commission on Horse-Breeding 
was appointed, and its first Show was held in conjunction with 
the Society’s Spring Show of Thoroughbred Stallions at 
Nottingham in 1888. 
While dealing with the 1887 Show, it may here be 
mentioned that the Society commenced in this year the Com- 
petitions for Shoeing Smiths, which have become since that 
time quite a feature of the Showyard. The Society’s opera- 
tions in this direction, with the co-operation of the Worshipful 
Company of Farriers, have undoubtedly helped to raise the 
standard of Shoeing Smiths all over the country. 
The Showyard. 
By the courtesy of the Freemen of Newcastle, a site for the 
1908 Show was provided in the City upon the spacious Town 
Moor, the scene of earlier “ Royal ” Shows. About 105 acres 
were enclosed for the Society’s requirements, and the familiar 
Main Entrance Buildings (which first did duty at the Newcastle 
Meeting of 1887) were erected at the southern end of the 
ground, facing Park Terrace, with approaches, on the one side, 
from the North Road, and, on the other, from Claremont 
Road, along both of which thoroughfares there were excellent 
services of electric tram cars. 
