Horse
Racing and
Early Fair Time Entertainment
Click
here to see our on-line exhibition.
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.
This exhibition has been displayed at the Jackson
County Fair, Jackson, MI; Michigan Harness Horseman's Association,
Okemos, MI; Iosco County Fair, Hale, MI; Orange County Fair,
Costa Mesa, CA; Calhoun County Fair, Marshall, MI; St. Joseph
County Grange Fair, Centreville, MI; Hillsdale County Fair,
Hillsdale, MI; Calhoun County Fair, MI; and Huntingdon County Fair, Huntingdon, PA.
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Rental
Fee: 8 Week period |
$1,500, plus shipping |
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Number of pieces: |
21 reproductions of turn-of-the-century paintings created for posters to promote agricultural fairs |
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Running feet required: |
75-100 running feet |
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Insurance Value: |
$8,000 Certificate of insurance required |
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Security requirement: |
Lockable, limited access display area; provisions to prevent the public from touching pieces; fire protection according to local ordinances
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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". |
Agricultural Fairs in America:
Tradition, Education & Celebration and other merchandise
is available from the Michigan
Traditional Arts Program Store.
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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