Horse Racing
Early Fair Time Entertainment

This exhibition has been displayed at the following sites: Calhoun County Fair, Marshall, Michigan; Hillsdale County Fair, Hillsdale, MI; Iosco County Fair, Hale, MI; Jackson County Fair, Jackson, MI; Michigan Harness Horseman's Association Annual Meeting, Flint, MI; Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, CA; St. Joseph County Grange Fair, Centreville, MI

Historically, county fairs were one of the few places to see horse racing. Before the midway gained prominence, fireworks displays, balloon ascensions, acrobatic performances, air shows and horse racing were early entertainment featured at fairs. Connections between fairs and racing continue today with tracks at some fairgrounds and revenues from racing supporting youth programs and fair premiums.

Horse Racing is the third exhibition in the FairTime! series, which features reproductions of the stunning turn-of-the-century art from The Fair Publishing House, Inc. (Norwalk, Ohio). It explores the historical developments of entertainment at agricultural fairs with a focus on horse racing.

This exhibition is eligible for funding through the Michigan Humanities Council's Arts and Humanities Touring Program. For more information, click here.

Rental fee (4-week period) :	$1,500, plus shipping
Number of pieces:	21 reproductions of turn-of-the-century paintings created for posters to promote agricultural fairs
Running feet required:	75-100 running feet
Insurance Value:	$8,000 Certificate of insurance required
Security requirement:	Lockable, limited access display area; provisions to prevent the public from touching pieces; fire protection according to local ordinances
Additional materials available:	Press materials. Slide/discussion programs are also available to supplement the exhibit: "Early Michigan Fairs," "'Women's Work' at Early Fairs," and "America's Unique Educational Fair".

For information on purchasing the publication Agricultural Fairs in America: Tradition, Education & Celebration, Click Here.

This traveling exhibition is an Agricultural Heritage Program activity of the Michigan State University Museum. It is made possible with the generous financial and in-kind support of the Carroll County Youth Fair (Maryland), The Fair Publishing House, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, Maas Foundation, Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan Humanities Council, National Endowment for the Humanities, The Office of Racing Commissioner, Upper Peninsula State Fair, and the following departments and units of Michigan State University: Office of the Provost, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Office of the Vice Provost and Dean, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU Extension, Office of Academic and Student Affairs.

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This is an activity supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs