_Dear Kathleen—It seems such a short time since our Spring Race Meeting took place, yet so many history-m have' taken place here" duri mouths that have elapsed since then. Poor old China has just missed being shoved off the elevated shelf where she hia chosen to remain for so many thousands of years. She is still much tov near the edge to be safe, but as far as a casual observer can tell the Powers intend to allow her renin where she is and content themselves by simply removing some of the dust of ages which has accumulated and covered up many of her redeeming features. Much will depend on the kind of duster they use and their method of using it, Meanwhile we are all waiting anxiously to see whether they will merely Hick off the dust with a feather brush so that it will rise only to fall somewhere else, or mop it up in sucha fashion that it will disappear for good. However, it is to be hoped that no important steps will be taken till our Race Meeting 1s over and done with, as the present stick-in-the-mud state of political affairs exactly suits the crowd of people who are interested, or trying to be interested, in the Races, as it allows them to concentrate their atte tion on the ponies or the latest thing in hats and gowns. I fear that sounds rather frivolous, but as 4 matter of fact most people seem to breather glad to put in_the background for @ little time think of somerh ug else, "When the Spring Meeting was on we were all more or Jess crazy about South African affairs. Iremember as a sign of the times some one called a Race griffin "Bobs," another pony was called A. M. B., and sported for colours khaki with a red, white, and blue sash and cap. This time I see amongst the list of griffins such names as Ghoorka, Baluchi, Rajput and Pow Pom. Six months ayo those names would have conveyed little or no meaning to the bigger half of the people who attend the Rices, whilst now they are familiar household words.
That momentous question "to be or not to be" has once again been applied to the Race Club tiffin, and has been decided in the negative to the vexation of some and the
live in the near vicinity of the Race Club of others. Most of the people who are putting up tiffins for those who are not so fortunately situated, so that I do not think the new rule will make much difference to any one except the Stewards, who were responsible of old for providing and looking after the Ries tiffin. I should think their lives will all be prolonged by several years in consequence, as the responsibility must have been prodigious.
Carrie and I have had several heated discussions as to what constitutes an intelligent interest in betting. Between you and me, our ignorance on the subject is appalling, but we both pretend to think otherwise, I declare the most intelligent method fora novice to adopt is to back clever jockey, or a strong stable, cousistently all through the meeting, or follow Daybreak's" tips which are issued each day, and are usually wor.h backing. Carrie believes in backing what are called, I believe, in "racing parlance "ikely outsiders," on the off chance of securing a big dividend from the pari mutuel, and I verily believe when sze happens to hit on a winner she thinks she has -been clever instead of merely Iucky. In order to master the intricacies of racing in this put of the world it is necess"ry to Know so much. I gave up long ago trying to identify the different ponies. Ihey pee such a marvellous family resem-lance that sometimes even experts are puzzled to tell which is which, One very soon learns to know the jockeys avd their various nicknames.
The owners of the numerous ponies are nearly all under assumed names, so that their identification makes another Drain-wearing task for the seeker after racing knowledge. Then the different racing colours have to be mastered, which iz not nearly such an easy matter as it appears, fon account of the elementary knowledge which the ave age man possesses on the subject of colours. It would save an infinite amount of trouble if the Stewards would appoint a ladies' committee to overhaul tue list of colours and christen them by names that would be more easily distinguished. Just before the big selling lotteries take place it is usual for owners to have an attack of hallucination which makes them imagine their best nies are off colour." Unfortunately the novice there are usually some real breakdowns, so that it is necessary to know which ace genuine cases and which are merely centred in the imagination of the owner. Those are only a few of the items which one ought to know before backing one's own opinion, and if you have not mide allowances for wet Weather, all your calculations may be totally upset.
There is a tremendous amount of rivalry between the owners of Northern and Southern ponies this meeting. All the folks from the North have sot their hearts on a pony called "Set," winning the Champions. Avother clique pin their faith on "Loyalty," which has already won that kaeeh coveted honour on two differen 8, whilst a beautiful pony called Damaskus " has also a big crowd of supporters. Two ponies from the South called "Bulbul" and "Desert Bing" are spoken of as likely winners, and by the time Saturday's great race is run other ponies may come forward as eandidates for public favour. There is always some pony that crops up during each meoting with " sensational reputation, ant is kept in the back ground. "Modder"
"Lochinvar" are two naines which we become quite familiar during that lost six mouths, yet neither have run in the regular races, but buth are entered to run this meeting, so we will havea chance of judging how much they deserved their, cellent reputations.
The races to-day were excellent, but as is usually the case on the first day there was a lack of enthusiasm amongst the spectators. Perhaps the low temperature of the atmosphere was partly to blame for that, as the day was bitingly cold in spite of the sunshine, which I fear deluded many, People into thinking it was a warm day.
Tam sorry I have not tims to tell you much about the gowns. As a rule they are not particularly smart on the first day, but to-day was an exception.
Blue was the predominating colour worn. Mostly in bright shades. One of the most striking was composed of cloth iv a pretty shade of royal blue. Tt was corded half-way up the skirt, and trimmed prettily with white passementerie, With
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.