BRITISH TURF. 377 



long, and two broad. It lies in a direction from 

 north-east to south, having the town of Kildare 

 near its western extremity, and being crossed by the 

 great road from DubHn to Limerick, and is, in fact, 

 an extensive sheepwalk of about 6,000 acres, form- 

 ing a more beautiful lawn than the hand of art 

 ever made. Nothing can exceed the extreme soft- 

 ness and elasticity of the turf, which is of a ver- 

 dure that charms the eye, and is still further set 

 off by the gentle inequality of the surface. The 

 soil is a fine dry loam, on a substratum of lime- 

 stone. Numerous large flocks are turned on it by 

 the occupiers of the adjacent farms, who, alone, 

 have the right of pasture, which greatly enhances 

 the value of these farms. This plain has long been 

 celebrated as the principal race-course in Ireland, 

 and is equal, and by many even deemed superior, to 

 that of Newmarket, in all the requisites for racing. 



CURRAGH APRU. MEETING. 



A Free Handicap of 15 sovs. each, 10 ft., with 

 25 sovs. added ; for two yrs. old ; Rathbride post. 



The Rossmore Free Handicap of 20 sovs. each, 

 with 100 added by Lord Rossmore, and 100 sovs. 

 by the club ; start at the Mulgrave post, turn at 

 the red post, and run home ; about two miles and 

 a quarter. 



Her Majesty's Plate of 100 gs. for mares three 



