23 



At Ceylon, at Colombo, they are well patronized and attended. Two 

 of the Governors of the Island, Sir E. Barnes and Sir Robert Horton, 

 were very instrumental in giving character and importance to them. Sir 

 E.Bai Ties, being a connoisseur in the sport when he was Governor, estab- 

 lished a jockey club at this place ; succeeded in the office by Sir Robert 

 Horton, that gentlemen, being also fond of the amusement, caused the 

 races, by the countenance and support he gave them, to be kept up with 

 much spirit. 



In India, the racing is quite respectable, from the quantity as well as 

 the quality of the sport it furnishes. There are few military stations 

 in India, that have not got a Race Course. Race week in Calcutta and 

 Bengal, is represented to be very attractive, and, like our race week in 

 Charleston, has the power of bringing into these two towns from the adja- 

 cent country, all who have a desire " to see, and to be seen," or to enjoy 

 once a year, in the unsophisticated innocence of their hearts, the animated 

 spectacle within their reach. 



At Bengal, some curious stakes have been established — among others, 

 " The ATatrimonial Stakes.'^ The principal condition of this race, is that 

 the rider, who happens to be the winner, is allowed, as the meed of his 

 victory, to choose from the unmarried ladies of the station, one, who, by 

 the rules of the race, is obliged to marry him. She must take him "for 

 better or for worse," though he may prove much worse than she takes 

 him for. 



Another very eccentric stake, is called " The Cheroot Stakes." A very 

 graphic description of these stakes, appeared some time since in the 

 London New Sporting Magazine, from a correspondent in India. We 

 will take the liberty of borrowing it. The writer says (this is the Che- 

 root Stakes :) 



" Each rider, on starting, is obliged to light a cigar or Cheroot, and to 

 keep it alight until he reaches the winning post, by no means an easy 

 matter to be accomplished. The distance to be run is generally two 

 mile heats, so the quantity of smoke to be consumed is not a trifling one. 

 The start takes place under a perfect cloud, each person puffino- like a 

 steam engine at first, to secure a good light; and at the word "off" 

 away goes the " smoky congregation" at tip-top pace. Some pull sud- 

 denly up, for a reason inexplicable to the looker-on. Others bolt in ihe 

 direction of tlieir bungalows, apparently by mutual consent of horse and 

 rider; whilst some manage to pull through without retaining a lio-ht 

 and, perliaps, one or two most inveterate smokers "come in" in as (hick 

 a cloud as they departed with. The quantity of smoke swallowed is 

 too plainly indicated by the pale faces of those whose Jir.d trial at the 



