ON TRAINING GROUNDS. 193 



scrapers, &c. would be giving the boys plenty to do ; 

 but as craving horses generally have to take their 

 gallops after their sweats, a rubbing-house being on 

 the ground would save the horses going twice up and 

 down this steep hill ; or even if they go through the 

 fields of the above-mentioned trainer, they meet with 

 some hills, and gates to pass through. Under all these 

 circumstances, I am of opinion that a rubbing-house 

 on the moors would be very useful. The race-course 

 at Richmond, when not too hard, is the most conve- 

 nient for horses which stand in the town to sweat over. 

 They may go along here in their sweats at a fair and 

 even pace, and when pulled up, they may be taken 

 into the saddling house to scrape, and afterwards take 

 their gallop and go home. 



The next ground I have to mention, and which is 

 the best I have ever seen for the purpose of training 

 horses upon, and perhaps, the very best ground known 

 in Europe, is the Curragh of Kildare, in Ireland, 

 which may indeed be said to be quite perfect for the 

 training of race-horses. 



It is a fine large open heath, of nearly five thousand 

 acres of the most beautiful and elastic turf I have ever 

 been upon. It is so suitably diversified with hills, 

 vales, and plains, as to present every description of 

 exercise ground that can possibly be wanted. In the 

 months of July and August, when it is often exces- 

 sively hot, and when most training grounds are found 

 to be very dry and hard, the mossy vales of these 

 spacious downs, even at this season of the year, are 



o 



