The land selected for the location of the track and grounds was the north three quarters of the south east one fourth of the north east one fourth, and the south one fourth of the north west one fourth of the north east one fourth of section 20, belonging to Mrs. Grant, there being in all about 50 acres.

At the meeting of July 3rd, the officers named in the articles on Incorporation were elected; also the following directors, J. H. Hall, James Bartley, C. E. Arney, H. N. Grant, H. Stocker, H. Grube, L. Eden, H. G. Jones of Audubon and P. B. Hunt of Harlan.

THE FAIR WAS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC for the first time, October 2, 1883. The second day the gate receipts were $500. On the third day, the fair was postponed a week on account of rain, and opened Monday, October 10. Friday, the closing day, over 1500 people assembled for the finalle. All in all, the fair was a grand success, and the attendance would have been quadrupled, had the weather been more favorable.

J.A. Sexton

H.G.A. Brunnier

THE SECOND ANNUAL FAIR was held September 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19, of 1884. The total receipts were $2680.30, while the fair, in general, was a great success.

The "free for all" was considered a "dead steal" from the association, by "pooling" and dividing the money.

FOR THE YEAR 1885, the officers were, President, U. L. Patton; Vice-President, H. D. Radeleff; Secretary, W. J. Marrow; Asst. Secretary, W. C. Henshaw; Treasurer, D. W. Sutherland; Directors, Wm. Johnson, and James Bartly of Audubon County; Carey, Arney and P. Miller of Crawford County; E. Shafenberg, Henry Grube and E. M. Kelley of Carroll County.

The fair was held September 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. It excelled all those of previous years in exhibits and attendance, and was considered a great success generally. One of the most interesting features of the fair, was the SHAM BATTLE, fought on Friday, by the old veterans and Company E., 1st. Regiment, State Guards.

Probably the greatest danger that threatened the success of the association at this time, was the freedom with which they permitted gambling and licensed shell games and "fortune wheels". Where spirited speeding is made, gambling always follows, yet it might have been possible to have restricted it to such an extent that its immoral effect would have been scarcely noticible, and not so repugnant to the great majority who were opposed to such amusements. For this year, the following records were made in the speeding ring: In the walking, trotting and running race the horses were to walk the first circuit., trot the second and run the third. Nora won First, and Tuckahoe, Second. The two-forty class, trotting: Callamore, First; Mollie Buncher, Second.

Running race, best two out of three: Ida's Pet, First; May Flower, Second; Slycer, Third. Running, five furlong, best three in five: Cole Younger, First; Ida's Pet, Second; Slycer, Third.

Novelty trotting race: The purse was, 10. to win the first circuit, $20. to win the second; $30. to win the third and $40. to win the fourth. Selena won the first circuit and Ida's Pet won the rest.

THE FAIR OF 1886 was considered a great success, and the weather was very favorable for affording a large attendance. This was the first year in which the association made expenses, they cleared about $600. This year, stronger protests were made against gambling machines and fakirs games, than ever before. The license was placed at $30, and as high as fifteen "gambling joints" , were found on the ground. Among the drawing features of the fair was the HOSE RACE, in which the Manning Team won First place. Their time for running 200 yards, breaking and making coupling, was 34 1/4 seconds. There was an excellent display of stock and farm implements, and the floral hall was filled in every department.
The record of the speeding ring was as follows:

IN 1887, the fair was held on the 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14th of September. The first three days of the fair were well attended, but the financial success was impaired the 13th and 14th which prevented the horse and hose races.

In May of this year some of the stockholders of the Association wished to discontinue their connection with the same and with withdrew. This action necessitated a reorganization, which took place May 7th. The new articles of incorporation were drawn up, and the Association continued under its old name. One of the principal Articles in the bylaws was the prohibition of gambling on the grounds. Another strong feature of the new organization, was its strong backing; which included nearly every business firm in the city.

The new officers of the Association, for this year, were: President D. W. Sutherland; Vice President. C. D. Dewing; Secretary, A. T. Bennett; Treasurer, Henry Hoffmann; Directors, D. W. Sutherland, C. D. Dewing, A. T. Bennett, Samuel Bingham, C. E. Arney, Chris Grube and H. D. Radeleft.

THE ANNUAL FAIR OF 1880 was a great financial success for the Association, netting them about $200. One of the principal attractions was, a balloon ascention and parachute leap, which failed to take place on account of the negligence 0f the Aeronaut, and an unfavorable wind.
The speed ring for this year developed the following record:

THE FAIR OF 1890 was a success although, probably, the most notable event was the accident which befell Greeno, a running horse which belonged to James Prichard, of Camanche, Iowa. Greeno was the fastest horse on the track and gave great promise of being a record breaker. It appears that a conspiracy had been formed by the jockies of the other horses to either permanently injure, or kill him, in order to get him out of the way. Greeno started fifth from the pole but was soon "rubbing" the two leaders and pulled out for the lead, as they rounded the curve through cut on the south end of the course. The two leaders seeing that all was likely to be lost, "cut" to the outside of the track and crowded Greeno and his rider into the bank, throwing both and causing the bursting of a blood vessel in Greeno's neck. Greeno died before he reached the stables. This was only one of the many exciting incidents of the race course.

The interest and attendance was so stunted by the depression in business and the dry season, that the receipts were not sufficient to warrant the advisability of holding a fair in 1894.

THE LAST ''RACE MEET" of the Driving Park Association, was held July 3 and 4, 1895. This was one of the most successful meetings that the association ever held although it was the last. Over three thousand people were in attendance, many coming from a great distance.

The first race was the three minute trotting. Out of thirteen entries there were six starters. Geneva drew the pole and after numerous attempts to score, the starter signaled "go". For a while it looked as though Uncle Dick would win the heat, but he fell behind in the last quarter and Geneva finished First, Uncle Dick a close Second, while May Rene was distanced. The next heat, in point of time was a surprise to every one. In this heat, Almont Sherman first got down to work, and though Geneva "played hard" for the first place, Almont was "too strong" and led under- the wire in 2:32, with Geneva, Second. In the third heat, Geneva was ruled out for fouling Edward, A.

In the 2:30 trotting, there were five starters. Bluebird drew the pole, and it took but little time to get a start. The first heat was taken by Bluebird who would have distanced the field, had he not been held in. Farmer, instead of being shut out, was given fifth place on the claim of a foul. In the next heat he crowded Bluebird for first, but the "play up the stretch" was not swift enough for the blue stallion who led the field under the wire with Farmer a close second.
Now came the critical time. Bluebird wanted another heat to close the race; but Farmer was a "stayer"; and in this heat, he started out determined to lead to the finish. Farmer would probably been given First place, had he not fouled Bluebird on the first turn. Though he came under the wire first, the claim of a foul was sustained, thus giving the Manning horse first money. Rosario was given Second, while Farmer was set back to Third place.

The last race was the 3/4 mile running. Red Bird was First; Billy L., Second; Mart, Third, while Green Webster succeeded, admirably, in being shut out.

THE GROUNDS WERE SOLD, in 1896, to Samuel Bingham, for $1700. For a time, there was some agitation of converting the grounds into a park, which, we are sorry to say, lacked the proper amount of push.

W.E. Sherlock

Gustav Stegemann