xxxiii HORSE RACING, HUNTING AND POLO 329 



accepted allowance of 21 lb. to bring the best Somali 

 and the best Arab together over any distance. With 

 Abyssinians the case is somewhat different, since there 

 exist in Abyssinia without doubt ponies with much 

 good Arab blood in them and occasionally with some- 

 thing better. It goes without saying that no weight 

 could bring the best Arab ever foaled within hail of an 

 English thoroughbred of decent class. The East 

 African breds form another problem, since every 

 year they improve in quality, and before long no 

 doubt will have to take their place in the highest class. 

 A sample of a possible programme for a two days' 

 meeting might be : 



First Day. 

 First Race. An Arab handicap over say 5 furlongs. 

 Second Race. A Steeplechase for all horses over 



1^ miles. 

 Third Race. The Produce Stakes of British East 



Africa for all 2 and 3 year old horses got and 



foaled in the Protectorate. Weight for age, sex, 



and inches allowance. 

 This race is the local Derby, being the most 

 valuable as well as naturally the most interesting race 

 of the year. At present it is confined to horses 14.2 

 and under. This restriction, however, will probably 

 be removed in the near future, as the tendency is for 

 East African breds to increase in size yearly. In the 

 course of a year or two the race is likely to be run in 

 two classes, the one under this height, and the other 

 unrestricted. 

 The ^Fourth Race. — For horses the bona fide property 



of resident farmers — 12.7. No rider to have 



ridden six winners in the Protectorate. Distance 



6 furlongs. 



