The Calcutta race-course is situate about a mile and a half to the southward of the town; it is by no means duly preserved, being occasionally much injured by the carriages of gentlemen who frequent it as a ride. It is true there is a clerk of the course; but he has no power to enforce the observance of the rules laid down by the Jockey-Club; he cannot, in fact, prevent the course from being miserably defaced, and cut up; nor can he, even when the horses are running, keep it clear from obstructions. This evil arises from a want of disposition in the majority of those who frequent the place, to join in the sports, or even to encourage them; hence, a want of courtesy is prevalent, and the horses run under great disadvantages. It may be said, that, as they run only during the cold months, when the turf is tolerably firm, little injury is done by the carriages which travel over it; but, in answer to this, it may be urged, that a rut, or track, made at that time, speedily hardens, and becomes dangerous both to the horses and to their riders. But, where few are interested, few will be considerate.
Many horses that have started at Calcutta would make no contemptible figure even at Newmarket: according to the distance, and the time in which the course has been run over, I have reason to believe, that a few, which could be mentioned, might competite with the best of the second class of British racers. Taking into consideration, that such are entirely the result of chance purchases, and not from any care in breeding, it may be fairly argued that the horses of India, by which I mean those brought from Candahar, Lahore, the Maharrattah states, &c., possess considerable speed. Many, indeed, of that small indigenous breed, which is usually held in contempt, especially on the turf, have displayed very great powers, and distanced horses not only of considerable value, but of high reputation. The race-grounds in other parts of the country are not better preserved than that at the Presidency; however, there is ample room for toleration, both because there are few horses kept for running; the races, in those quarters, being merely desultory, and the course generally marked out, _pro tempore_, from some uncultivated spot; which, having a tolerable surface, may answer the purpose of amusement for two or three days at Christmas.