Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-09
AN IMPORTED SPORT.
A Novel Contest Which is Popular in
India.
THE GYMKHANA RACES.
How They are Being Adopted I'm This
COuniry-Amusing feats Requiring
the Exercise OF skill and Ingenuity
whatOne can do with az God Broncho.

Written for The EVENING STAR ICopyright 1890
q H E Gymkhana races are something
"a new, something amusing and ought to
become popular. As the name indicates
Hthey are of eastern origin. having been
imported from India. They were intro
duced into this country by Mr. F. A. Blacque
in the spring of the year, and only two OF the
races have yet taken place on American soil.
Others, however, are promised before the
season for such things closes Some descrip-
ton Of the races and Of the manner in which
they are conducted will be Of interest
First of all the object of the races is not to
best the comparative endurance and speed of
horses. Indeed. speed has nothing to do with
them, and. therefore, the gambling element is
completely eliminated. Instead have the
polo pony or the mustang. and the contest in
which he forms prominent feature consists in
the ease with which his rider is able to over
come . series Of obstacles which are placed
IN his way.
THE MUSTANG,
Is Is well known, has the endurance and
strength of steel, and withal he is small quick
in bis movements and excessively intelligent.
He is, IS rule, thoroughbred and cOnse-
quently nervous. being in this respect far more
Brough: up on the parched grasses of the
plain and accustomed to hardshIps of every
kind, he combines tractability with spirit and
answers on tine instant to good riders COM
mand. Almost universally used in the far
west, particularly the cattle ranches. his
many excellent qualities have lately brought
him into popular favor in the more settled
parts OF the country. Mustangs are further
more very cheap, good ones being sold from
ESQ to SI0O when first brought from the west.
not commonly known, for they are quite equal
TO the work of full-grown horse, and If
vicious one Is not got will furnish person with
rs pleasant ride as be had on anything
that holds a saddle,
The first requisite in the Gymkhana races is
the presence of number of ponies in any
vicinity, and as good an afternoons sport can
be had as you could wish. The sport further
more, Is interesting as well to the contestant
as to the Onlooker, for superiority in any one
OF the feats undertaken betokens the part
Of the rider skill of one kind or another
his antagonists, while the situations OF the con-
testants are constantly made lively and anus
Ing
IN AN OPEN MEADOW.
The races-'games" they should more
properly be called-are given upon polo field
or in any open meadow which can be conven-
isntly staked off for the events and which is
fairly level box and railing erected at a
spO' serves lOE Il Judges sldnu,
while the spectators can roost upon fence rails
II the dignity and comfort of a grand stand
cannot be readily had The ground itself
should give straightaway gsllop of three or
four furlOngs. Around this a course can be
laid of with remnants according to the require
ments of each of the races, a longer or shorter
stretch being used, according TO the problems
which the riders are given to solve.
In order to give Il better idea OF the games
however, the writer will describe them as they
occurred at Oyster Bay and at Cedarhurst New
York, this year, the only two places in which
they have yet been given. At these places,
OF course, all the appanages of comfort are al
ready provided IN the established polo fields
with their stands, dressing rooms and other
psraphernalia. Regular entries are made for
the different events. a rider usually putting his
name down for all of them, as il is not too hard
for his pony to struggle through the list An
entry fee of 81 is charged to each contestant
and first and second prizes offered in each
event. Polo balls. buckets, spoons, umbrellas
and all the objects necessary for the races are
provided by the committee getting up the
games.