52
Dera Ghazi Khan
Horse Show.
232. This Show was held from 9th to 11th March 1899 and must be
regarded as having been a great success. This is in a great measure due to the
interest taken in horse-breeding matters by Captain Powney Thompson, the
Deputy Commissioner of the District, and I feel that the thanks of this Depart-
ment are due to him for the success obtained, as well as to Mr. Broadway,
Punjab Police, for the general arrangements of the Fair.
233. Great rivalry exists between Dera Ghazi Khan and Thal Chotiali
(Sibi) Districts in matters of horse-breeding, and the spirit of emulation serves
a most valuable purpose. It is always a question whether the young stock of
the one or of the other is the best; from a remount point of view as possessing
more substance, I prefer the Sibi-bred youngsters: those of Dera Ghazi Khan,
however, show more quality, taken as a whole. Both, however, are excep-
tionally good.
234. This district has suffered greatly from drought, and it was at one time
feared that this Show would not maintain its high reputation; but, although
there was a falling off of 725 in actual numbers, still 92 more competed for
prizes: this speaks for itself as to the standard of quality. This increase was
mainly seen in the number of young stock exhibited, which is a pleasing feature
in a Show; especially was the increase most marked in the two and three-year
old filly classes. This shows the interest taken by breeders, who, as far as lies
in their power, keep their fillies for breeding purposes.
235. The following report on the class of stallion most suited for the
district, by the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, will be of
interest:—
"The stamp of branded mare is certainly a very good one in this district and warrants the keeping of a large
percentage of Thoroughbred sires to mate with them. Since last year, the only Hackney, 'Grandeur', has been
removed and replaced by a Thoroughbred Australian.
"The classes most marked for quality were—
"Class III.—Three and two-year old fillies;
"Class V.—Yearling fillies; and
"Class VI.—Filly foals.
All these Classes were decidedly good, the owners in several cases refusing to take anything but prohibitive
prices for them.
"The class of sire producing the greatest number of prize-winners came out in the following order:—Tho-
roughbred English with 34, the Arab with 30, the Thoroughbred Australian with 27, the Studbred with 8, the
Norfolk Trotter with 5, and the Hackney with 4. The most successful sire in producing prize-winners was
"Heliophanes', Thoroughbred English (now unfortunately dead), credited with 14, 'John Gilpin', Thoroughbred
Australian, 'Hegira', Thoroughbred Australian, and 'Nightingale' Arab, lying for second place with 11 each;
others most successful were 'Exbank', Thoroughbred Australian with 8, 'Itarsi' Arab 6, 'Karigar' Arab 5,
'Young Grendon' Stud bred, 'Grandeur' Hackney, and 'Walton Gentleman' Norfolk Trotter, with 4 each."
236. At last I have been able to eradicate all Hackneys from this the best-
breeding district in the Punjab. The following are now employed:—
8
5
3
1
Arabs.
Thoroughbred Australians.
Thoroughbred English.
Stud bred.
In addition to these, four District Board ponies are maintained, and five Impe-
rial donkey stallions are employed. This will prove the value of Dera Ghazi
Khan as a breeding centre.
237. Ten head of young stock were purchased by the Army Remount
Department. Thirty-one remounts were purchased by Native Cavalry and
two by Police, the average price paid by Native Cavalry was R274. Four
mules were purchased by the Army Remount Department and twenty-one by
dealers.
238. We have evidence of forty-seven animals purchased for Military
purposes, but, as has been previously shown, dealers bought largely at this Fair.
This is clearly shown in the Deputy Commissioner's report, in which he shows
that 374 animals were sold at the Show. The statement, therefore, stands as
follows:—
47 bought for Military purposes, valued at . . . . . .
327 bought by private individuals, valued at . . . . . .
R
11,593
41,607
Many of the latter will undoubtedly find their way into the ranks.