MORE RACING 175 



gymkhana. The course encircled the polo ground 

 and was about three-quarters of a mile in circum- 

 ference. Every week each man pulled out his 

 horses or ponies for a race or two, and handicaps 

 were so adjusted that every horse or pony, however 

 poor, had a chance of winning in his turn. A race 

 was instituted, but gradually died out for want of 

 support, distance one and a quarter miles, to be 

 ridden on numnahs,^ and whilst in vogue it created 

 much amusement, as falls were numerous. 



Twice I had the good fortune to win it, both 

 times on a pony, Prince Charlie by name. I paid 

 ;^2 5 for him, and this price was considered to be 

 most exorbitant, a contrast indeed to present-day 

 prices, when good ponies cost as much in India as 

 they do in this country. The height for polo ponies 

 was then 13*2 hands; nowadays it is 14*2, an 

 increase which, along with the fact that high-class 

 ponies are difficult to get, places polo a little 

 beyond the reach of a poor man. 



My experience of racing in India was entirely 

 with Arabs. A high-class Arab is one of the 

 most beautiful animals in creation, one outstanding^ 

 characteristic being the exquisitely shaped head, 

 with an expression suggesting gentleness and 

 courage, set on the neck with perfect symmetry 

 and grace. Nearly every thoroughbred horse has 

 ^ Numnah : a felt saddle-cloth without stirrups. 



