09/07/2024
First off, I would like to thank everyone for your support. I hope everyone enjoyed the races. The reason I haven’t posted before today is my phone has been blowing up.
To touch on the disagreement about admission, the fair board was told in April, June and the Sunday night before the race that we were charging admission to the event. How they would expect an event with the costs that there were to be free is beyond me when no separate arena event at the fair is ever free. They gave me the choice of Tuesday or Wednesday night to hold the races. I chose Wednesday so people wouldn’t have to pay twice to come to the event like they do for any other event, including the derby. The day of the races, they came to me and told me I couldn’t charge, after seeing how much interest there was and knowing they wouldn’t have their hand in the gate money. They said we could accept donations. When Mr. Bishop asked for donations at intermission, explaining how there was a lot of cost to put on the event, they shut us down because the truth casted them in a bad light. This also resulted in Mr. Bishop and his family being escorted out of the fair by five deputies and the fair board president while trying to enjoy the fair. He wasn’t even involved in the altercations behind the scenes. The altercations were caused by a fair board member cussing and calling one of the female riders names. Then another grown man (fair board member’s son) shoved her with his chest. She simply defended herself against said man and SHE was threatened with charges.
It’s heartbreaking how when money got involved, they treated us. I trusted the fair board members that I have literally known my entire life, like family. I’ve been in their weddings and many other special occasions with them.
Regardless of the fair board’s actions, we will continue to grow and find another location to bring the community fun events for your families.
The amount of love and support you've all given, is truly heart warming! I appreciate you all more than you know! Max Bishop