234 REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 



How often of late years had newspaper critics been forced 

 to write of Sonepore "Socially delightful, racingly poor," but 

 of 1893, " an all round success" may honestly be written. A 

 big new stable had sprung up at Mozufferpore, which, under 

 the able management of that experienced G.R., Mr. L. 

 Thomas, seemed likely to sweep the board. Calcutta sports- 

 men poured in their entries, and Mr. C. Hay-Webb was 

 known to have several good ones among his string at Mookta- 

 pore, while Rowland Hudson and his rare " Oirish boy," 

 Mr. Phil Murray, weighed in with a few good enough to come 

 occasionally to the fore. So, from the very first, it was evi- 

 dent we were not to have a one horse show, but really open 

 racing. The Princes of Durbangah, Hutwa, Doomraon and 

 Cooch Behar had all responded royally to the yearly call on 

 them for Purses; the Calcutta Merchants, Brokers and Trades- 

 men had also cordially weighed in with handsome cups and 

 donations; while the heart of every fair maid who was invited 

 there fluttered with anticipation of a rarely good time; and 

 could caustic Teddy Drummond or that bravest of brave non- 

 combatants, dear old Fraser McDonell, have been able like 

 Asmodeus to float over the tent tops, they would have ac- 

 knowledged their successors had not allowed their favorite 

 old recreation ground to deteriorate. 



But while the lads and lassies thoroughly enjoyed them- 

 selves, there was pleasurable pain to the older ones present in 

 calling back to recollection the old faces that in days of yore 

 used to frequent the grand stand, when if a hundred all told 

 were present it was considered a record meeting. Large 

 hearted Monty Turnbull, proud owner of the gallant Arab 

 Hermit, and whose menagerie at the Hermitage, long before 

 the Zoo was started in Calcutta, was a thing of delight to 

 Mrs. Turnbull, but a source of supreme annoyance to the 

 Ooryah bearers of the household; rubicund Charley Palmer, 

 cleverest of medicos and straightest of racing men, bright- 



