HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



tered at the Curragh, at Newbridge, or Kildare, and 

 there have been many Sportsmen's or Red Coat 

 Races as well as Regimental Races held over the 

 same course. It is altogether a typical bit of Kildare 

 country, the fences are quite fair, and the course 

 could hardly be improved upon for a small steeple- 

 chase meeting. I find other meetings were held at 

 Kilcock, at Corbally Harbour, at Burnt Furze 

 under Furness Wood, at Rathcoole, at Naas (where, 

 however, was only flat-racing); others, again, rather 

 vaguely described as " over a sporting country." 



The first of these meetings of which there is 

 definite record was held on October 22, 1824, 

 when sport was provided for two days. The next 

 seems to have been held in 1827 ^^ ^^^Y ^^ ^^^ 

 lasted for no less than four days. In 1828 they 

 managed to make up a programme for five days, 

 from May 27 to 31 inclusive. The generous scale 

 upon which sport was provided in that year may 

 have produced a surfeit. At any rate there was no 

 further meeting until 1830, and then only for one 

 day. May 25. In 183 1 they were also content with a 

 single day, May 24. In the following year, 1832, 

 there was both a Spring and an Autumn meeting, on 

 May 22 and September 25. For the next four years, 

 1833-6, there was a single day's sport fixed for the 

 end of May in each year. How the programme was 

 filled up it is difficult to say. I find mention of as 

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