At 1887 Northwest Ohio Fair
Fostoria First in the Neigh-tion with Horse Races Under the Lights
August 3, 1997

THE NORTHWEST OHIO FAIR — Come one! Come all, and help make it a great success. So spake the Fostoria Democrat, the town newspaper, in an August 1888 edition. And where were one and all going to come to make the fair a great success? Why, Fostoria, naturally.

For about eight or nine years beginning in 1886, Fostoria hosted the Northwest Ohio Fair before the Seneca County Fair came into being.

The Northwestern Oho Fairgrounds occupied 40 acres in a spot that today is bounded roughly by Hissong Ave. on the south, Poplar St. on the west, Lytle St. on the north and the old Chesapeake and Ohio tracks on the east. It included a grandstand, the Art Hall, Carriage Hall (perhaps also known as the Display Hall) and Main Hall.

The fairgrounds also possessed one other fascinating feature, a half-mile horse racing track and thereby hangs a tale.

Horse racing, the sport of kings, was a prime entertainment at fairs of the day. Prior to the 1888 fair, the Fostoria Democrat proudly proclaimed, "The trotting department is complete and we may look for some splendid races."

A swift steed pounding the turf is a splendid sight, indeed. At the 1887 Northwest Ohio Fair, it was also a one of a kind sight, for Fostoria's fair would attempt what had not been ventured before — anywhere. Fostoria would race horses at night — under the lights. No one had ever tried it.

There were two nightly racing sessions as well as three daylight cards. The track was bathed in gaslight supplied by stand pipes. The starting judge for the world's first gas lit horse race was R. J. Wheeler.

"I believe," he recollected, "I am the first judge in the world to give the word to a field of horses at night, when the light was furnished from stand pipes or flambeaux of natural gas. This was in 1888 (sic) at Fostoria, Ohio, and it was a success in every particular. The affair was gotten up as an advertising dodge by the Fostoria Fair people and drew a big crowd from all parts of Ohio."

That recollection is found in The Complete Book of Harness Racing. Author Phillip Pines points out that a bone of contention among race aficionados was whether the racing that night would be faster or slower due to the unfamiliar illumination.

"The question was: Would horses extend themselves or would the unusual light cause them to stop? The result proved that from some unexplained cause horses would trot or pace at least three or four seconds faster by such light than during the afternoon's sunlight."

On Sept. 8, 1887, the Democrat, was pleased to announce the whole affair an unqualified success.

"The three days and two nights races were all that could be desired. Everything passed off amicably and turf men generally have voted the Northwestern the finest track in the state. The gaslight races were new and novel and Fostoria had the honor of introducing to the world that most brilliant success — gaslight races. Those who at first condemned the idea are now loudest in its praise. The sight was grand and has never been equaled."

The Northwestern Ohio Fair was an extraordinary exposition. In 1888, 20,000 people passed through the gates from Aug. 21-25. Local merchants displayed everything from stoves to carpets to hardware to silks and satins to books and stationery. Even the Fostoria Buggy Co. Showed off its wagons and carriages. There were exhibits of baked and canned goods, artwork and crafts.

In addition to gaslight racing, the fair had other novel touches. You could step fancy at the dance pavilion all day (or night) long. One young lady was documented to have been on the platform from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., but said she "wasn't a bit tired."

In a Review-Times Potluck column, Paul Krupp said the fair had it won newspaper. The Daily Picket, with a daily printing of 8,000. The paper was sold to benefit the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union Civil War veterans organization. Mr. Krupp also wrote that one year the Emerald Band came from New York City to perform at Fostoria's fair.

The Northwestern Ohio Fair enjoyed a run of about 10 years. Mr. Krupp speculated that perhaps the Seneca County Fair proved too much competition.

Now we couldn't close without reporting that some of the horse race results. In the world's first nighttime horse race, Lucy Page paced the field in a time of 2 min. 41 sec. The second race was captured by Alvira in 2:32.

I would have lost my shirt in the third race, won by a curser name Chance. I would have bet the farm on Tom Nitrogen. How could you not bet on a horse name Tom Nitrogen? Only problem? He finished last, dead last. One hundred ten years and he might still be trying to find the finish line. Oh, well.

Note: The Focus thanks reader Herm VandeKerkhoff for the story idea. He found The Complete Book of Harness Racing in a box of books he bought at a flea market and ran across the quote from R.J. Wheeler.