102 Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



best average of a large number of races in one season 

 in India was that of Lord of Clyde, in 1863-64, when, 

 out of thirty-eight times he started, he won thirty-two. 



At the time Vanderdecken commenced running 

 "Captain Charles" (Colonel Smith, better known as 

 " Smith of Asia ") owned a thoroughbred English mare 

 called Morning Star, who, for a mile, was 2 st. better 

 than the Waler, and 21 lbs. his superior for i^ miles, 

 as the old man told me, and as her performances 

 testify. At Calcutta, December, 1865, in the Trial 

 Stakes, one mile, carrying 10 st. i lb., she defeated Van- 

 derdecken, 9 St. 4 lbs., in a common canter in i min. 

 47 sec. ! She was, perhaps, the fastest miler we have 

 ever had in India. As Mr. Collins could not beat 

 her, he bought her. He told me that he once tried 

 her, with 8 st. up, to do a mile in i min. 41 sec. She 

 was an unlucky purchase for Mr. Collins, as she was 

 not long in his possession before she died of some 

 internal complaint. Death also removed poor Dr. 

 Rimmer. From that time, Mr. Collins raced and trained 

 his own horses with considerable success, as far as wins 

 went, though without profit from a pecuniary point 

 of view, as, being illiterate, he kept no accounts him- 

 self, and was frequently deceived by persons in whom 



