252 



Zil, Mr. Alston on Rocket, Mr. Atlay on a chestnut, Mr. Currie on 

 Magpie, Mr. Sniktaw on a bay, Mr. Dusra on Othello. Mr. Eden on a 

 bay. Captain Rawlinson on a grey, Mr. Ackvvorth on a black, Mr. Orrell, 

 Mr. Verschoyle, Mr. Campobello on Tim, Dusra Cawmill and a host 

 of others. The starters drew up in line and went away together 

 towards the first hurdle, but before reaching so far, the Snark put his 

 fore legs in a small drain and rolled over his rider, who fortunately was 

 not much hurt, Sappho got rid of Calcutta's Own over the first hurdle, 

 and matters looked serious for a first start, but the horses, headed by 

 Rocket and Jumbo, soon settled down as we raced over the paddy- 

 fields where a mud wall was placed. 



We then turned to the left over two ditches with mud walls in front, 

 and on through a village inclining round to the light through some 

 lanes and then on to the open towards the Salt Water Lakes, where we 

 turned round for home across the road over some nicely placed jumps. 

 The two leaders had by this time got well away from the field, and came 

 sailing across the railway towards home with nothing else in sight. The 

 last four jumps were in full view of the gallery, and some encouragement 

 was doled out to each rider as he rushed by. Rocket came in some two 

 or three lengths from Jumbo and then after a long interval Magpie 

 appeared, followed by a gentleman on a bay, who the gallery called 

 "Tom," Mr. Atlay was fifth, Mr. Ackworth sixth, Mr. Murray seventh, 

 Mr. Orrell eighth, and the rest came straggling in at safe intervals. 

 The next chase will probably be on Thursday morning, when it is hoped 

 that a larger field of starters and a closer finish will be run. All inter- 

 ested should qualify their horses early, for there may not be quite so 

 many chases this year, owing to the lateness of the season and the bad 

 state of the ground. 



It was to be regretted that a better gallery course could not be 

 provided for Christmas week, but as the crops are still lying about the 

 Red Road country and the new railway is so much in the way, nothing 

 could be done inside Jodhpore. The extra distance, however, did not 

 prevent a large number of people from coming out, and the number of 

 starters was a long way above the average. The course, though a short 

 one, was well chosen, and the jumps were judiciously placed, while the 

 scent was laid thick and unbroken throughout ; indeed, there was 

 nothing for any one to find fault with, not even the weather which was 

 cold enough to bring out furs ! 



The start was at the sixth milestone beyond Jodhpore, on the right 

 hand side. Among the starters we noticed Mr. Murray on Zil, Mr. 

 Alston on Trumpeter, Mr. Masher on Tom, Mr. Holmes on Jumbo, Mr. 

 Roland on a black, Dusra on Othello, Mr. Atlay on a chestnut, Mr. 

 Currie on Magpie, Captain Muir on a bay, a stranger on Snowstorm, 



