OXFORD — The “Big O” Oxford Fair kicks off Sunday with events ranging from a country showdown band contest and woodsmen’s events to 4-H animal exhibits and carnival rides.
“For those who have not seen or felt the ground shake from a hitch of six 2,000-pound horses thundering around the arena, it’s definitely worth experiencing,” Oxford Fair director and treasurer of the Oxford County Agricultural Society Lance Bean said of the draft horse show. Bean said it will be one of the events on Saturday, Sept. 17, where everything from a single horse up to a six-horse hitch will be exhibited.
The show is just one of dozens of events including 10 “blanket races” on Thursday to commemorate former great race horses and a special 9/11 race on opening day Sunday at 1:30 p.m. At that time a red, white and blue blanket will be presented to the winning horse to commemorate the events of Sept. 11, 2001, as a week of harness racing begins, race track director Buddy Burke said.
He said the race will begin with a flag-raising ceremony by the Anderson-Staples American Legion Post of Oxford. The ninth race on the card will have the special blanket presentation honoring the 9/11 victims. The blanket is donated by the Downeast Harness Horsemen’s Association, he said.
“On Thursday, we’re changing things up and honoring horses owned by Oxford Hills area owners,” Burke said. The so-called “blanket races” will have 10 blankets specially made with a different horse’s name on each. They will include one named “Pedro Tipton,” a horse owned and raced by Joe Robinson in the 1930s. Others will represent horses owned by Bill Haynes, Freedman Parker, Steve Brown, Don Roy and Suzanne and Rupert Grover.
“We’ll have 10 blankets on the fence post with the horse’s name on it. Whoever wins the race gets presented with that blanket,” Burke said. There will also be a table with old photos and memorabilia.
On Saturday, the Ray Brown Memorial will feature the best pacers in the state racing for a purse of $10,000, Burke said. Post time for Saturday races is 1:30 p.m.
On Monday, the woodsmen’s contest starts at 9 a.m. with the junior woodsmen from local high schools. Education day is Wednesday, Sept 14. The program is being coordinated by Jeannie Federico of the Oxford County Soil and Water organization. Students from the Oxford Hills area, home schooled children, and others will be attending.
Seniors Day will be held Thursday with bingo, checkers, entertainment, food and the always popular senior frying pan throw.
“We’re still offering the Community Day on Sunday, 9/11,” Bean said. Admission for everyone will be $1.
There will also be a show by Rave X, a trick riding snowmobile group, the Country Up band contest, horse pulling on Friday and Saturday, ox pulling on Wednesday, steer and an ox show on Sunday and saddle horse show on Sunday. Dairy, beef, sheep, llama and alpaca will be exhibited all week, Bean said.
The Oxford Fair, in partnership with WTHT 99.9 The Wolf will hold a Rockin’ Country Showdown band contest with a top prize of $25,000.
From Tuesday to Friday, there will be daily performances starting at 4 p.m. Performers from each day will move on to the finale. On Saturday performances will start at 1 pm. The winners will be chosen Saturday evening. The first place winner will receive $25,000; second place $7,500 and third place $2,500.
“There is a lot of stuff going on all week,” Bean said.
The 100-acre fairgrounds is on Pottle Road, which is off Route 26. Admission is $1 on Sunday for Community Day; $5 for ages 11 and older from Monday through Wednesday; and $10 for ages 11 and older Thursday through Saturday. Those older than 60 will be charged $5 admission on Thursday.
Children ages 10 and younger are admitted free throughout the week.
ldixon@sunjournal.ocm
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