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I i i t j | j | EGYPTIAN RACING PROSPERS J Meetings Are Held at Cairo, Alexandria, and Elsewhere— Totalizator Used in Betting. Egyptian racing is in a very flourishing condition. In the dim and distant past the natives raced, a horse, a gun with an inlaid stock, or a wife, being the prize. Later, the stakes became more important, the winner bearing away a formidable sack of piastres. ] Then came the British occupation and with it the usual complement of British cavalry regiments. And, naturally, wherever the cavalryman goes he races. So at Cairo. Alexandria, Maadl, Heliopolis and elsewhere there are any number of meetings. The Cairo race course Is part and parcel of the Gezira Sporting Club grounds, Gezira being just outside the town. One could not wish for a finer course, while the palms which fringe it, together with the view of the Nile, add to the pleasures of the sport. The totalizator, by the way, supersedes the pencilers. Controlled by the Sporting Club, it invites the punter to back his fancy. He may not, however, invest more than a ten pound note, or less than the equivalent of four shillings. The backers include "all ranks" in the garrison, the European merchants and countless pashas, e fiend is, bashas, beys, bimbashis and other major and minor Egyptian notabilities. The dragomen and the donkey boys also show up, while every native servant who can snatch a half-holiday haunts the totalizator. Such is its lure. The racing invariably Is good. The officers of the cavalry regiment generally are owners to a man ; the English officials are sportsmen, and the wealthy Egyptians — of whom there are any number — possess enviable stables. There is, in short, no lack of entries and the cups and purses are well worth the winning. Incidentally, a deal of money changes hands over the result of every big race. For the "Gyppie" backer has coin to throw about and — well, he throws it. When owners are up, the British soldier invariably backs his officer. The honor of the squadron, company or battery demands it. Let him put his money on a horse ridden by a civilian and the regimental sergeant-major may have a word to say to the delinquent. And the R. S. M.s word is law. At big meetings there seldom are fewer than seven races, while close finishes are the rule rather than the exception. Imported English thoroughbreds, country-breds and Arabs are entered, the last-named having a good turn of speed. So, too, have the country-breds, and they often pass the post first, though starting at long odds. Many of these animals, in fact, have brought a small fortune to their original owner by winning the stakes and pulling in a large sum in bets. Eventually they are sold for stud purposes— and for their weight in piastres. Sometimes the country-bred commences its racing career in a very bumble way. Picked up for a trifle, the animal is tried and unexpectedly wins a race or two. Within a year it may have brought the gratified owner a substantial amount. Each Cairo winter race meeting is an important social function. Britons of distinction, who are visiting Cairo, put in an appearance ; officers in various arms of the service figure in the inclosure and Egyptian notables, wearing the Orietal fez and European suits, abound. Arabs, in flowing white robes, rub shoulders with coal-black Nubians and a stray Bedouin is to be seen. On special occasions the meeting includee a dance. Oriental custom demands it. — Bailys Magazine.
