Paulding County revs up for jump on the fair season

7/9/2001

PAULDING - Horsepower is the unintended theme for the Paulding County Fair, which will feature the four-footed variety of harness racing, a piston-powered tractor pull, and mixed motorsport mud racing.

The fair runs today through Saturday. Admission is $4.

Ray Speice, senior fair board member, said the fair's traditional early starting date precludes much of the crop displays that grace the exhibit halls at later county fairs.

“That really does hinder us some,” Mr. Speice said.

But the Paulding County event tries to make up for it through its livestock offerings. Mr. Speice said the fair offers “pull-in” exhibits for beef, lamb, and horses, which allows exhibitors from outside Paulding County to participate. This is the first time the open exhibit will be offered in the beef category.

Today's opening will include a junior fair parade at 5 p.m., followed by a mini-horse pull.

For fans of mechanical horsepower, a demolition derby is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in front of the grandstand. Organizers of previous demolition derbies said the events have been so popular they have had to turn away entrants, he said.

Harness racing, a staple at most county fairs, will be offered Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30 each night. Admission to the grandstand is free and pari-mutuel betting on the 2 and 3-year-old pacers and trotters is offered.

The annual antique tractor pull will be staged at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Another machine horsepower favorite, mixed motor sport mudracing, begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and offers six classes for vehicles, including 4x4 trucks, Mr. Speice said. The cash purse totals $1,750.