RACING IN CEYLON 331 



seen on the part of any amateur ; and, If I 

 may say it with bated breath, I have often 

 thouorht that there are not a few of our 

 professionals who would be better without 

 the •' flail " when it comes to a ding-dong 

 finish. The youngster in question, whose 

 name was Duncan, had learnt his riding in 

 Australia, to which island he soon afterwards 

 permanently returned. It would be interest- 

 ing to know if he has since made his mark 

 there. 



Strange to say, the Arab Derby, which 

 was a weight-for-age race, two or two and 

 a half miles, never attracted the interest 

 which, from our proximity to Bombay, 

 might have been expected. Three or four 

 was an average field. On one occasion I 

 remember there was a strong competition 

 between the Ceylon cracks and three horses 



