BRITISH TURF. 261 



surrounding country, are capable of accommo- 

 dating 2000 persons. In addition to this, there 

 are six common stands, capable of accommodating 

 6000 people. Stables for fifty horses, with rooms 

 over them for the grooms, have been built at the 

 upper end of the Union course or training ground. 



We find the first mention of Liverpool in the 

 racing calendar for 1827, when three days' racing 

 took place, but for very inferior stakes. Such 

 however has been the success of this national 

 amusement at this city since that period, that we find 

 at present no less than four meetings take place 

 annually, at which very considerable stakes are 

 run for, and wliich attract vast crowds from the 

 neighbouring large manufacturing towns, as well as 

 from Liverpool itself. All sincere friends of the 

 Turf must rejoice at the progress this amusement 

 has made of late years in the counties of Lanca- 

 shire and Warwickshire. To such an extent indeed 

 has this been the case, that almost as much and 

 as heavy betting takes place at Liverpool, Man- 

 chester, and Birmingham, on the leading events of 

 the Turf, as in London itself. 



At present the following annual meetings are 

 held on the Liverpool race course : — viz. The 

 Craven meeting, about the middle of May, which 

 continues three days ; the July meeting about 

 the middle of July, four days ; another meeting in 

 the middle of October, for stakes ridden for by 



