30 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



distinction appears to be a sort of heir-loom to the 

 family ; and it has become a kind of proverb in Kildare 

 that " there never was a bad Kennedy." Sir Edward 

 is a most indulgent landlord, and that he understands 

 agriculture, and takes an interest in it is proved by the 

 fact that Johnstown-Kennedy presents all the appear- 

 ances of a *' model farm." Being a sportsman " to the 

 manner born," and residing in a county where the chimes 

 of the paddock-hill are heard almost as frequently as 

 the melody of hound music, it is not surprising that he 

 entertained a penchajit for the sport happily styled na- 

 tional ; and we find his colours, " green, pink sleeves, 

 and black cap," registered in Mr. Justice Hunter's 

 "Calendar" of 1853, for the first time; but they had 

 been " sported " a few times previous to that year. In 

 "* $'y^ the first Corinthian Cup was run for in Punchestown, 

 and Sir Edward rode a mare of his own for it, named 

 Concetta. She was a small hunter, and the Baronet 

 was '' chaffed" a good deal as to his chances of success, 

 and he consequently backed the mare for a good deal 

 of money, to beat more than would beat her; and 

 she did, for she finished fourth out of eighteen run- 

 ners. 



At the Curragh June meeting that same year he 

 rode his own horse. Collier, for the Corinthians. There 

 was a long price to be had about him, as Mr. Wm. 

 Kennedy's Brother to Russborough, afterwards called 

 Cruisk, ridden by owner, and Lord Waterford's April 

 Fool, ridden by Major Bell, were backed for a great 

 deal of money. The first heat terminated in a half- 

 length victory for April Fool, after a great finish with 

 Collier, but Brother to Russborough won the second 

 and final heat easily. 



