The Spring Meeting took place on Saturday, April 22nd. The day was fine ud warm, the thermometer standing 84° in the shade. Th of the Western Hills some eight miles distant was grand—all nature. was bursting forth, while from the plain in all directions were rising little cyclones of dust which were whirled in a straight line, right up almost to the clouds. Riders, horses, and spectators were in the best of spirits. A great Chinese gathering of blue frocks lined all the neighbouring heights. Along the edge of the Course for a quarter of a mile, Chinese carts were drawn up several deep. The whole scene was one to look upon with pleasure.
Not a single accident or unto- 7 ward circumstance occurred. A Chinese crowd is much greater than any similar gathering would be in Europe or America, There was a large turn-out of Chinese of the better class. Three of the chief Mini f the Yamen were there—their Ex-'Wang, Chung and Chou, with of Secretaries, servants and atten-'Two gentlemen had their cameras, and look various views of the Grand Stand and the motley gran; the surrounding eminences, besides speci of the Chi-se Ministers. The foreign community Peking turned out almost en masse.
presence of the ladies lent a double m to the scene. Th Foreign Ministers, excepting the Russian, American and Dutch, were all present, "A sumptuous tiffin was provided, at which the Chinese Ministers sat down, and they seemed to en-British Minister proposed the joy the turkey, ham and cham Th Yamen Ministers, who had given, as is their wont, one of the prizes. The health of the Ladies was also proposed by the esteemed Minister of the Ta Ying.
The Race Committee consisted of the Belgian Minister, the German Secretary of Legation, and the British Second Secretary along with Prof. Oliver the Hon. Treas., and Mr. Bredon of the Customs the Hon. Sec. Every thing reflected the greatest credit on the committee. This meeting has been one of the most successful ever held in Cambalu. There was just one drawback, and that was the position of the Grand Stand to the winning-post. It is distant from it on the north in the in-coming side about 150 yards. The spectators can only tell with great difficulty the winning horses, and where the tie is very close, it is quite impossible to tell. By the time the horses come up to the Stand they are being pulled up, and thus the spectators lose all the excitement of the last few seconds of the race. This change was made a year ago to prevent the horses bolting in at the gate which is close to the old winning-post. But surely the change of the gate to the other or south side of the Grand Stand would have obviated this difficulty. It looks absurd where it now is, and only the north end of the Stand is rosily available for an outlook. The Chinese on the mounds had decidedly the best of the view, we hope before another year this glaring fault will be rectified. As it is now, one of the horses bolted in at the gate just after starting and lost his rider the race. It is not unattended with danger, moreover, and any but a first-rate rider would stand a fair chance of being thrown by this sudden movement. The judges were Mr. Ohimer, who made himself useful as gold in place of the Hon. Chester Holcombe, and Mr, 42 Pirkis, The latter is a most indefatigable and indispensible personage at all such meetings. He spares no labour to make the thing a complete success, Several false starts were made, but the riders were brought back and began de nov, The starter was our esteemed Baron von Ketteler, and the Clerk of the Course was Mr Mande. The Course, we may say, was in first-class order, a slight shower of rain a few days previously having put it into perfect condition. The Course is a mile round. The British escort was on the ground, but their services in keeping order were not much wanted, There were eight races in all, beginning at 11 o'clock and finishing shortly before A o'clock. The first was the Maiden Plate, value, $75, one mile, For ponies that have never run before. Entrance $5. Three jonies entered, Hwang, ridden by Mr.
legge owned now by Count Tattenbach but lately by Count de Noidans, Mr. Maude's Macaroon, ridden by Mr. Garles, and Sir Robert Hart's Moonlight, ridden by Mr. Montgomery. Macaroon were in 2 min. 18 secs. Hwang came in second.
The second race was for the Yamen Prize, presented by the Ministers of the Yamen. 'Tis, 76 to the first pony, Tis 2 to the second, third pony to save his entrance, two miles. For Peking owned ponies only, entrance $10. 'Three ponies ran, Mr, Carles' Sunrise, Sir Robert Hart's 'Sunshine, ridden by Mr. Montgomery, and Mr. Ruogge's Eastwind. 'The latter won the race in 4m. 878, Sunshine was a good second and Sunrise broke down, 'The Third Race was the Ladies' Purse, Presented by the Ladies of Peking. For ponies owned and ridden by Peking residents only, Weight 12 stone. Once round. Entrance, $5. This was a walk over by Baron von Ketteler on Kay-ching, The Fourth Race was the Minist $100. mile Presented Representatives at ly ridden by Mr. Rnogge, Mr. Maude's Macaroon and Mr. Piry's Casar, ridden by Mr, Warry. Mr. Mande came in first in 1.34, with Kay-ching as second.
The Fifth Race was the Hai-kuan Challenge Cup. Value Tis, 100 and $50 added from the fand, if won for the first time. Presented by Sir Robert Hart, K.0.M.G. and other gentlemen of the Imperial Maritime Customs. The Cup to become the property of any gon! ing at Peking consecutively. un ie. Entrance, $5. For whose pony or ponies, win it two years
this race five ponies entered, Kay-ching ridden by Mr. Ruegge, Mr. Montgomery's Greyboy, Mr. Carles' Suurise, Sir Robert Hart's Sunshine, ridden by Mr, Maude, Sunshine, late Odin, won in Sin. 24s., Mr. Montgomery being second.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.