GREAT EQUESTRIAN FEATS OF THE RACE-HORSE. 453 



common sense are too often trifled with, and outraged in the 

 case. 



In country courses, (so styled in contradistinction to 

 •the grand theatre of racing — the head-quarters — I^ewmar- 

 KET,) the chief concern, plate or purse, is always decided by 

 heats ; since, otherwise, the few matches or sweepstakes, 

 decided by a single heat would not take up sufficient time 

 to complete the amusement of the day. Sweepstakes of 

 hunters, however, are, by general custom, run the best of 

 three heats. It is a good old sporting custom, and fair on 

 both sides, for the winner of a maiden plate, or sweepstakes, 

 to be demandable after the race at a certain stipulated sum. 



Newmarket Heath is the most spacious, and, indeed, the 

 principal race-course in the world. It is situated at the 

 west end of the town of Newmarket, in the counties of 

 Cambridge and Suffolk, twelve miles east of Cambridge, 

 and sixty miles nearly north of London. Races were in 

 vogue in the eleventh century, and much frequented at 

 Newmarket early in the reign of King Charles the First. 

 The king's stables at Newmarket are the place of entrance, 

 and the weighing-place is at the King's Stand. 



The Curragh of Kildare is the great and fashionable race- 

 course of Ireland, and may be considered the Newmarket of 

 that country. 



GREAT EQUESTRIAN FEATS OF THE RACE-HORSE. 



The following are a few among the many extraordinary 

 feats performed by race-horses at different periods : — 



1752, March 30th. — Mr. Arthur Merrin's, bay gelding, 

 Skew Ball, got by the Godolphin Barb, with a weight of 

 eight stone seven pounds, beat Sir Ralph Gore's grey mare, 

 Miss Sportly, got by Victorious, with a weight of nine 

 stone, for three hundred guineas each, four miles on the 



