Sepia Saturday
Alan's prompt shows folks having fun at a 1940's fair in England.
Kentucky State Fair brings thrills, concerts, animals and more
The very first Kentucky State Fair, in 1902, grew from a basic economic need posed by the newly formed Kentucky Livestock Breeder’s Association: to strengthen the national standing of Kentucky’s herds. This first State Fair was held at Churchill Downs, and 75,000 people attended. For a 50-cent admission, those first fair-goers witnessed races of the new steam automobile and the top attraction: a head-on collision between two locomotives.
The State Fairs of the first decade also supported the Commonwealth’s great horse traditions, provided a showcase for the year’s harvest, advanced the state’s industries, and encouraged excellence and competition in the domestic arts.
The history of the fair encompasses Kentucky’s growth and change in communications, transportation, technology, and even fashion. The Kentucky State Fair has become the training ground, the testing site, and the public showcase for the state’s progress. To borrow a promotional phrase from the early decades of fair history, the State Fair is “Kentucky’s Parade of Progress.”
State Fairs have many things but my favorite has always been the
World's Championship Horse Show.
(photo courtesy of Washington County Ky. Bicentennial History 1792-1992)
One of the most prosperous businesses in Kentucky is the breeding, training and showing and racing horses.
I grew up in a town where Kalarama Farms was one of the most prominent and famous farms in Kentucky for Saddle Horses.
Friends of ours owned the farm and in the early 1980s entered the World Championship Horse Shows with Harlem Globetrotter out of sire New Yorker.
Pictured above is the trainer and rider Larry Hodge on Harlem Globetrotter when they won the
1982 National Three Year Old Championship at Freedom Hall.
Kalarama Farm is still in operation in Springfield Kentucky and has an intriguing history found here
www.kalaramafarm.com
Go here for more Sepia Saturday
14 comments:
I grew up on county fairs, and even our little home town has one every year...but for me I'll take a State fair any day! Cool fair post!
That first state fair must have been exciting - Parade of Progress was certainly an apt phrase for all that was on the horizon.
Nice photo Peggy. The horse connection is interesting in that the old fairs in England seemed to start as trade fairs for animals, including horses. Here in the Canary Islands a horse sighting is rare....camels and donkeys we have a’plenty however.
Is the fair held in June? That's very interesting. Now I know why you love horses so much and why we get a glimpse of them every now and then here.
It cracks me up to think that they purposely had a head-on train wreck. That must have been something!
This is so neat! I have only been to the Oregon State Fair a couple of times. I can't imagine a head on crash of a locomotive as entertainment. Seems kind of expensive.
Thanks for the info and great picture.
Kathy M.
Interestingly your State fairs are more like our County Shows which tend to have an agricultural theme and nearly all will include show jumping for the horses.
The Kentucky horses are well know to us as is the Kentucky Derby.
I like to go to the Minnesota State Fair at least once a year.
There were train collisions there and at many state fairs
many years ago.
HI!!
HOW FUN!!!
I love the state fair....here it is in the fall because of the HEAT...sometimes in Oct it is still HOT....but I think they moved it to November......Love the animals best!!!
Enjoy your day!!!
hugs,
jamie
Enjoyed your post - Can't imagine the force of a collision between two locomotives! Harlem Globetrotter was such a beautiful horse - I visited the Kalarama Farms link also - they have an interesting history.
That is a beautiful,high stepping horse!
In Australia, we call them "Show" not "Fair". I haven't been to one for years but remember fondly the rides and show bags full of goodies.
What a beautiful horse and what a funny name.
Nancy
I wonder who dreamt up that "head on collision" that certainly thought big in those days. Love the horse.
OK!! I stick to those collisions between trains... WHY?????????
What was the entertainment value of that?
But the 1882 pic is great.
THAT, I can understand.
:)~
HUGZ
Post a Comment