OCR Text |
Show Horse racing Is a far moro arduous pastime in Mongolia than In England says London Chronicle. When C. W. Campbell traveled through .that coun-j try In 1902 ho had tho opportunity of Inspecting tho racing stud of Tsctsen Khan, tho most renowned In' Mongolia. Racing Is tho national pastime, pas-time, and a racing stud of dimensions commensurato with rank and wealth Is tho proper appanage ot a prince. Tho races are never under ten miles long, and tho derby of Mongolia Is a contest over 3j miles of rough steppe. At n race meeting I nttondca In tho Chabar country tbo competing ponies wero mostly owned by Lamas. Tho races which tako place every year at Urga aro hela under the direct patronago of tho Lama Popo of Mon golia, who becomes (ho owner of all tho winners. A horso raco with a bishop in tho Judgo's box and a public pub-lic chiefly clerical Is certainly a phenomenon. |