MISSISSIPPI'S ONLY SANCTIONED RACETRACK

This is the harness race with pacers, horses trained to move right legs at the same time, left the same, a smoother ride. Fast clopping, sulky wheels rattling, audience leaning on the fence cheering, a day at the races. All week long pacers, trotters and quarter horses entertained. Win some, lose some.

Notice how red the soil is; wet it stains, won't wash out. Grownups prayed for dry weather for racing. Kids prayed for rain and got it. Infield puddles gave kids an excuse to get wet running or sliding through and wrestling. Two girls did backflips numerous times. Pink and yellow boots were tossed aside so girls could mud fight. A hug included a handful of red mud to their hair and down their back. A hosing off was in order.

2009 Red Convertible Travel Series

WORKING THE MULES

Mule competitions: adding another fifty to one-hundred pounds to the sled excited the mules. Hard workers, mules look like horses, but their ears are much longer, their faces larger, they bray not whinny, and they're a whole lot more stubborn. When you walk into the Tunica, Mississippi museum, you'll be eye to eye with a mule pulling a cotton wagon. They have their place in our history and at the fair.

2009 Red Convertible Travel Series