12 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



for the different events. Under these rules, English and 

 Australian horses give Arabs 3 st., country-breds 2 st., 

 and Capes 14 lbs. ; while there are, of course, allowances 

 for age. I may add that even with these very liberal 

 concessions, the sons of the Desert and Indian produce 

 have not the slightest chance, at any distance, with 

 English or Colonial stock. There are very few Cape 

 horses now imported ; the only good ones which I 

 remember having seen in India were Mr. Collins' Merry- 

 man, a fair second-rater, and Echo, who was a great horse 

 in his day, but was long past mark of mouth when he 

 first landed in the East. Country-bred horses, having a 

 strong dash of thoroughbred English blood, are generally 

 faster than Arabs for, say, six furlongs, but do not stay 

 as well. 



On the vexed subject of breeding in India I may 

 here devote a short paragraph or two. 



In many parts of India, where the climate is a hot, 

 damp one, it is practically impossible to breed horses 

 which would serve any useful purpose whatsoever, even 

 with the best dams and sires the world could produce ; 

 while in no district in India, without constant importa- 

 tions of fresh blood, can horses be bred fit for racing, 

 or for the requirements of Horse Artillery or English 



