FIRST BAGHDAD "DERBY."

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16147, 27 February 1918, Page 9

FIRST BAGHDAD "DERBY."

HISTORIC RACE MEETING IN CITY

OF THE CALIPHS

British sportsmanship is a perpetual mystery to the Germans. They cannot understand how in the middle of war British soldiers obtain huge enjoyment from sports of some kind. Perhaps this story of tho First Baghdad Derbv" which was arranged soon after ttie capture of thnt famous city—will enlighten them (says the London -i--.veniag News"). It is an extract from a letter written by a young cavalry officer to his father, himsolf a famous "cross-country" man. The really interesting news I have for you is about the first Baghdad race meeting, and if by some almighty fluke the Turks get Baghdad again, .1 oxpect it will be the la6t. , A few more youthful spirits and 1 drove up in great style, dead-heating in our arrival with the Army Commander (henceforward referred to as tho A.C.) and his retiuuo, in a heavy four-wheeled waggon which we had artistically decorated in rod, white, and blue. There were six horses to draw it, which they [ did extraordinarily well considering they had only been in harness four times, but we had a very capable whip holding the ribbons. His driving was, superb, particularly on the return journey, in tho pitch-darkness across tho desert, which is intersected with numerous small nuflahs (ditches). Tho first race was for Indian Sowaj'S (Tommies), and enthused us not a bit. Tho second race we all had great hopes of pulling off on a poor old gee who found it too much to get more than second. This Tace, tho Fall Cup, was won bv Major (commonly called "Leno'') on Flying Hackle. He's our brigade major. After this came tho Deli Abbas Cup—a polo pony scurry, the only race not won by this brigade, and this was won by an officer m the other brigade, so that not ono 9 U P went to anyono not in tho cavalry division. Stevo , my great 'pal, ran third, and thc_ hope of the regiment, , on Captain 's Elcctrode, was nowhere. I rode' a pony of mine jnst for something to do, and wished I hadn't, as I was aware it couldn't gallop to keep it-self warm, not even in Mesopotamia, and so I got all the pebbles which the leading ones kicked up in my eye. THE RACE OF THE DAT". Then came tho Kut Cup. presented by General . our divisional commander, a polo pony chase. This is the cup I so mucn wanted to win. . was riding my pony Whiskers, for it is tho well-known "Old Rose and Lavender." Wo arranged for him to be up in the front of tho pack, and so he went away ahead at the start. Then they went out of sight, and when they came into view again my heart fell, for there was miles away behind the tail of the pack. But I started to leap with joy on suddenly seeing him .going double the pace of tho others, and he passed them as if they were standing, and started to fight for a place with the three leaders. He overtook two, but the leader was miles in front, and although challenged him, when he found ho couldn't win ho just steadied his mount and cantered in a good second. 1 wondered what on earth had happened, because if he had kept with the head of the pack he must have won by forty lengths. Sure enough, as soon as I reached he told me to object to the winner for going tho wrong course. had pulled up and gone right, and as., with tho exception of three or four of them tho whole field had gono wrong, that is how lie lost his place. Then the third came up and wanted me to object, so I trotted along and we had a very exciting do which had to be left unsettled until after the next race. After this I scuttled off- to got ready to ride my remount. Venus, in the bic racc of the day, the Baghdad Cup,-preL sented by tho A.C., the heavy-weight chase. I hadn't the least idea of winning, but only of having a ride round. We navigated th& first two fences all right. Then came a most terrible crash and sandwich, in which three of them went down, one fellow to break his arm and three ribs, and another a collar-bone. Soon after this I realised my gee was going really well, and I only had one horse in fronfc of me with (of the Hussars) up, so I took hold of myself and determined to keep my head and go easy. I just waited quietly about 30 lengths behind him until about half a mile from home. I knew by this time that 1 had all the others boat, and so I just sat back and rode, increasing the mare's pacc gradually, and she flying the fences so that I just felt a glorious sliding motion under me. HIS HEART'S DESIRE. I had all but caught my rival, just on tho entrango to the straight when I saw him get a bit wrong round the flags, and so I made a hell of a detour round thorn and then let tho mare go. The way she leapt forward was just like a high-powered racing car. She flew and left him standing. ' Then I realised it was my race, and so I let the mare canter past the post, stroking her neck, about 20 lengths to tho good, and I could just hear lovely music tho regiment cheering itself fit to burst,. I had just finished weighing-out when I heard that "Whiskers" had been given his race too, and so I won the two best cups of the day at what I expect will be a really historical raco meeting my first race as an owner, my first raco as a jockey,' and my first as owner, jockey, and trainer ~ combined.

In the race for British X.C.O.'s and men tho regiment was first and second. So we finished up with three wins, four seconds, and a' third in five races. Next came the presentation of the cups, and I had an awful moment when the A.C., who was covered with embarrassment, nearly gave the Kut Cup. which I prized so highly, to instead of me, and I practically snatched it out 08 his hand and tumbled it into Steve's, while I rushed up again to receive the A.C.'s own cup and had a little chat with him, in which I got very muddled up as it was so unexpected. Everyone was most enthusiastic about my wins, and I went about like a coy and giggling schoolgirl for the most part.

The regiment came round after dinner and christened the cups and celebrated the winning thereof. Next morning I got up with "some" heart and a great distaste for breakfast, all of which 1 think can be put down to my negroid servant, who left me snoozing in tho sun for a couple of hours before I suddenly felt it scorching me. Anyhow it was Sunday, so I snoozed all day and felt quite merry and bright by the evening.