CHAPTER XXXIII 



HORSE RACING, HUNTING AND POLO 



As may be imagined, in a Colony where the 

 principal industry is farming in one form or another, 

 any sport connected with horses is not likely to 

 be neglected. Ever since there were ioo resident 

 Europeans in the Protectorate Nairobi has had its 

 race-meetings. At first, of course, such meetings 

 were very informal, though by no means the less 

 pleasant on that account. Everyone who had a horse 

 with four temporarily sound legs meant having a ride ; 

 and many such a horse after pulling his master, wife, 

 and friends up to the course came from between the 

 shafts and for one brief crowded hour became a race- 

 horse, to resume in the evening his less ambitious i'6le. 

 All that is now altered. Nairobi has a very pretty 

 race-course and three properly managed and conducted 

 meetings are held a year. Not only are such meet- 

 ings most enjoyable in themselves, but they form the 

 object for a general meeting of farmers, prospectors, 

 and planters. The three weeks are therefore crowded 

 with affairs of business, affairs of politics, and social 

 pleasures of all sorts. At these times the planter 

 from Malindi or from the Lake, the sheep farmer 



from Naivasha, the horse-breeder from Kenia, and 



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