BRITISH TURF ISJ 



CHAPTER VII. 



The Race-courses in Great Britain and Ireland — The various Stakes 

 run for over each annually, with many other particulars of interest 

 to the British Sportsman. 



It must be a matter of sincere congratulation to 

 every possessor of true British sentiments, and con- 

 sequently every admirer of the field sports so peculiar 

 to our native country, that in spite of all the cant 

 and false religion brought to bear against the 

 amusements of the turf by a numerous class whom, 

 in common charity, we will call misled fanatics, 

 racing has still gone on increasing in prosperity and 

 in the national favour. It is indeed strange that we 

 find these puritanical gentry willing enough to ap- 

 propriate to themselves their fair share of the na- 

 tional glory, the well-earned harvest of many a hard- 

 fought battle — strange to see with what compla- 

 cency they will sit on a fast coach, and perhaps be 

 the very first to complain if they are not whirled 

 along to their " place of meeting" at the rate of 

 about twelve miles an hour. And yet almost in the 

 same breath we find them running down that 



