SCENES FROM THE FAIR: FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020 A PACE NEVER BROKEN

$25.00

Description

Illustration by Nuri Ducassi, 18×24

This poster, which is part of a 12-poster series, is an homage to “the North Star state’s great display of the products of the earth and air, the outpouring of the horn of plenty into the lap of Minnesota’s loyal people,” as the Minneapolis Tribune wrote in 1896.

On Sept. 8, 1906, “a great crowd assembled” on a sultry day at the State Fair to witness Minnesota’s most famous horse, Dan Patch, run what would turn out to be the world’s fastest mile by a two-wheel sulky, a record of 1:55 that was later matched but never broken. The celebrated pacer had already set the world record two years earlier, in a Memphis race that made the front page in Minneapolis. The “King of Pacers” was so famous that he pitched products, graced glossy posters and appeared in political cartoons; his owner, entrepreneur Marion Savage, eventually gave his name to a Twin Cities suburb. Savage paid what was in 1902 a fabulous amount of money — $60,000 — for a horse that nearly died as a yearling. After an illustrious career traveling the nation in his own train car, Dan Patch retired to the green pastures of Savage Racing Stables. Marion Savage died in 1916, just over a day after the death of his beloved stallion. It’s said he perished of a broken heart. But from Dan Patch Avenue to the hippodrome, the pair’s fame lives on with every beloved horse shown at the fair.

Each poster is printed on-demand on heavy quality photo paper. Posters will arrive in 10-14 days.