In addition to all this froth and frolic Lord Bill had been doing some useful business in the way of buying race-horses for himself and his friends. He had also engaged the lightweight jockey named Dunn, who arrived in India about the same time as his lordship returned, ready for the October meeting at Umballa. While at home he had purchased and sent out two or three horses and a pony for Indian racing, amongst them, Metal, in hopes of carrying off some prizes at Calcutta. The horse came from the Duke of Westminster’s stable, but had disappointed his owner in the Goodwood Cup, Baron Hirsch’s horse just beating him. What a cheery meeting it was, the 9th Lancers being there under orders for home. They marched out of the station on the last day of the races, the whole of the white population turning out to give them a hearty send-off. A great number of racing men collected there, combining their wish to see the 9th Lancers off for home and see some racing. All were in great form, and the fun was tremendous. Lord William’s valuable Prospero won three races for his owner. Dynamite and Oliver Twist also won a race each. A rising Armenian barrister in Calcutta was also present, having conceived a passion for racing and started a stable for the purpose. In the club at Umballa on settling day a sporting match was arranged between this barrister named Mr. Gasper and Lord Bill, the suggestion coming from the former. The match was for 2000 rupees a side, P.P., each horse to carry not less than 8 stone 4 lbs., distance ¾ mile. Horses to be named by 1 o’clock the day before the race, which was to be run the last day of the first Calcutta meeting, horse to be nominated by Lord William Beresford must be his property or the property of H.H. the Maharajah of Durbangah. Lord William hoped to win this on one of his new purchases named Metal, but when the day arrived the horse was ill with colic so Mr. Gasper’s Regulater walked over. Great things were expected of Metal, and as the Maharajah of Durbangah was very anxious to win the Viceroy’s Cup Lord William sold the horse to him just before the race, and His Highness had the pleasure of seeing his colours carried first past the post. Tim Whiffler, who had been bought at the same time as Metal, had so far not done anything worthy of record or the pay for his keep, and at Tollygunge, running for the Ballygunge Cup, he went head over heels at the first hurdle, rolling on his rider. This was an unlucky race for most of the riders, as every horse fell except the winner, Mr. Charles Moore’s Prospect. The second day Tim Whiffler won a race after another fall. At the second Calcutta meeting in January, Metal won the Kooch Behar Cup after a good race with Sir Greville, belonging, I believe, to Major Prior.