EGYPT'S RACING SEASON

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 43, 22 April 1942, Page 6

EGYPT'S RACING SEASON

(N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) Egypt is right in the middle of the racing season. Week •alter week to Heliopolis and Gezira, Cairo's lashionable racing venues, crowds llock to watch their favourite jockeys ride thoroughbreds or Arabs round the dry, grass tack, past the geat tar-boush-splashed stands. War lias brought little change to the size of these crowds. If there are less civilian patrons, there are certainly enough khaki-clad servicemen to make up for the deficiency. Cheap betting systems have made attendance at race meetings in Egypt only a slight luxury for the man in khaki. New Zealandcrs who have always been track enthusiasts are usually well represented in the spacious enclosures. The season extends for five months in Cairo and four months in Alexandria, in both of which cities arc two influential racing clubs, with their track and grounds in, to thn Stranger, surprisingly green and attractive surroundings. There is a distinctly European note about the Gezira environs, set in the shady, verdant grounds of the Gezira Sporting Club, on a large iisl'and on the Nile. In marked contrast is the course at Heliopolis, with its elaborate Oriental buildings surmounted by ornate domes, its flat red-sand enclosures and its large percentage of native patrons. Both the Gezira Sporting Club and the Heliopolis Racing Club have as their patron H.M. King Faro.uk, while the British Ambassador, Sir Miles Lampson. is president of the former and vicepatron of the latter. Owners include Lady Lampson, who named her horse Kiwi, in honour of the New Zealanders. This horse lias won sev-

eral races. Racing takes place on Saturdays and Sunday practically every week, with occasional meeting's on Fridays and on public holidays-. Attendances are usually large and widely represen tntive. Soldiers are admitted to the first class enclosure for approximately seven shillings, and to the Second class stand for three shillings. The difference in amenties, however, is considerahe. At Heliopolis a large paling fence surrounds the lower price enclosure and through this hundreds of natives in dirty, cotton galabeyieas hand their few piastres to runners who scamper from the fence to the tote.

Programmes are of seven races. Besides handicp and champion races for thoroughbreds, Arabs and ponies, there are, elsewhere, sellers and maiden events. Stakes range from £150 to £800, some of the prize money being contributed by well known establishments after which the race is named. Thus, in the Shepeards Hotel Handicap, valued at £800, no less than £500 is donated by the hotel. No time is Avasted between races. A. seven-race programme' is got through between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Horses parade round the "paddock" (bird cage) which is superior to> most New Zealand equivalents, gallop past, and start a few minutes later. The animals are thus studied rather than the investors, who have often to rush their betting before the starting bell closes down the tote. At Alexandria, photographs; are taken of finishes.

Owning in Egypt has been called n rich man's hobby. I't is certainly the case that most owners are rich oriel influential people, many being well known in social life. However, the following of meetings seems to be the hobby of rich and poor alike. Betting in the latter class may be small, but it is none the less keen.