Some Facts on a Much Vexed Question By Arthur de C. Sowerby, F.2.8.
In view of the fact that so much interest has arisen of late, especially amongst the racing community in China, as to the status of the so-called China Pony" a few remarks upon the subject by one who has been familiar with native ponies during a long residence in China, and who has also travelled extensively in Mongolia, thw home of the breed, may not be out of place. At the dut-set, however, let it be clearly understood that 1 have not the least intention of offering any advice to race clubs er owners of racing stables as to how they should settle the acute question as te what ponies should and what should not be eligible for racing in China. I merely wish to assist those who are exercised in their minds over this sorely vexed question to come to some decision as to that is a "China pony."
The uninitiated, or newcomer to China, might be tempted to say "Surely that is an_easy question to decide? A China pony must be a pony that comes from China." But right away ho would be wrong. It is not. Who first used this name, or how it came to be generally' accepted, history does not tol!, but the fact remains that though according to the rules of all the race clubs out here races are open to "China ponies" only, not one in a hundred of the ponies that have raced since the time that racing was instituted in this country originate ed in China, They have all come from the great plains of Mongolia, well to the north of the Chinese border. The proper name to give to these ponies 1s the ''Mongol pony."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.