. . - 198 - ' FAIRS AND FAIR MAKERS -
v Early Opposition Overcqmg
‘ Several serious problems soon developed to stifle attempts of the associ-
l ation to hold its first fair. The opposition that the bill had met in the senate \\\
` was renewed by opponents of a State-wide fair. Then, too, the management was .
" without funds to obtain permanent equipment, for no appropriation was made by the
legislature except the $15,000 that had been designated for premium use. _
Since no specific location for holding the exhibition had been stipulated,
the question of determining that point provided a means of easing the financial 7
problem, but at the same time opened a road to dissension between localities _
V bidding for the fair. ` ’ _
` State-wide fairs had been held previously by other States, but these pro- Q
.. vided no rules or precedents. A business policy to fit the needs of the State `
` was as imperative as were new classifications for the exhibits shown. The tempe- A
,. rance group, the anti-racing faction, and other similar component parts of the
A1 voting population had to be kept in line so that they would not oppose the legis-
{ lative appropriations that might shortly be asked, for on these grants the life
V of the fair in future years would depend. Racing, even to test a horse's speed,
p was prohibited at the first fair, although that fair was held at Churchill Downs, .
E home of the Kentucky Derby.
5 The arrangement: of exhibits, when completed, had a distinctive Kentucky
I flavor. Classifications established differed much from those found in other
E States, having been arranged to meet conditions in this State.
t "TRAVELIRQZNEAIRS OF ITS EARLY YEARS
L2
E The first Kentucky State Fair was held on the Churchill Downs racecourse in
Q Louisville, September 22-27, 1902. It was successful, not only in presenting an
Q adequate picture of Kentucky’s agricultural life, but in paying its own way. The
T attendance was 75,000; the gate, $17,000. Those who knew the State well believed
f` that Louisville was not the proper location for the fair, because the city did
Q not represent the livestock and agricultural interests. The grounds and build-
Q ings at Churchill Downs were generally admitted to be unsuited for the use of the
g fair. After the fair was over and sufficient time had elapsed to reach definite .
E conclusions, the Livestock Breeders’ Association announced that it would enter-
if tain offers from other cities in the State where the fair might be held in 1905.
Q All the fair then possessed was its record books and the legislature's appropri-
T ation of $l5,000_ for premium money. It was easy enough to move to any other
Q locality.
§ In soliciting bids for the 1905 fair the Livestock Breeders' Association
5 asked that the bidder provide suitable grounds and post an indemnity fund to
Q guarantee against loss ‘if the fair failed financially. Lexington made no bid,
§ for that city had a highly successful Elks Fair which had become an annual event. ·
E In no equitable manner could the State Fair and the Elks Fair be consolidated.
` Owensboro, considered the most important city in the western part of the State,
{ made an offer of suitable grounds and expressed a willingness to guarantee
E against loss up to $15,000. This offer and the prospects for success at Owens-
$ boro were more favorable than the inducements held out by Louisville and was
§ consequently accepted.
S The second fair, held at Owensboro, September 21-26, 1905, was a disastrous
E financial failure, due largely to lack of a proper co-ordination of effort. The
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