Horses Still Trotting at the York Fair
York Fair time again—where did the year go?
Time again to have a Bury’s hamburger at one of the two or more stands that claim they make the real thing. I think they are all run by relatives of the original Bury brothers, so I am guessing that they can all legitimately make that claim, even though the burgers might differ. Maybe I should have a hamburger at each of the stands—taste testing, you know.
I plan to go Monday evening to see the harness racing. This year post times are 6 p.m. Monday, September 12 and 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 13. A few years ago I thought there was no more horse racing at the York Fair, since you see little or no mention of it in fair schedules and publicity. I was quickly corrected, for which I am grateful.
There are usually 12 to 15 heats for each program, lasting a total of three to three and a half hours, but since admission to the grandstand is free for the races, you can stay and watch as little or as much as you like. (You are listening to a thrifty Pennsylvania-German here, who likes to get her money’s worth.)
Make sure you pick up a free program with all kinds of information on each entry. There is no betting, but it is even more fun if you go with friends and each pick a horse.
You can download and read the informative 2011 Fair Harness Racing Guide on the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website to learn more about the thriving Pennsylvania harness racing program. The two and three year olds that race at York Fair and other big Pennsylvania fairs will go on to be racing stars of the future at the big tracks. We get the chance to cheer them on now.
Click the links below for previous posts on York Fair.
Finally–burgers and races.
Food, family and fun.
Glenalvin Goodridge wins photography awards.
1867 Fair racing news account.
1929 York Fair racing.
Still both harness races and races with jockies at 1959 fair.
Nosses may have captured some York Fair racing on film.
1877 flooding strands fairgoers at High Rock.
Click this link to go to York Fair’s website.
