THE CORINTHIAN CUP PICTURE. 315 



CHAPTER XXII. 



THE CORINTHIAN CUP PICTURE — CONTINUED. 



Number three on the key before me Is Mr. John J. 

 Preston of Belllnter, Navan, on Auburn, a very 

 distinguished and popular sportsman, who, "years 

 ago," gained an enviable and deserved reputation 

 as a horseman and patron of racing and hunt- 

 ing. His name appeared as an owner of horses 

 in " The Irish Racing Calendar " as early as 1840; 

 and his cap and jacket was first carried by Rising Sun, 

 when that son of Recovery ran unplaced for a sweep- 

 stakes at the Meath Hunt Meeting in 1840, on the 

 same afternoon that Brunette, then the property of 

 Mr. Alley, won the Meath Hunt Cup, value 100 sovs., 

 (given to be run for by Mr. Preston, who for 

 several years gave a valuable trophy for competition 

 at that reunion). On the second day of the meeting 

 Rising Sun, ridden by George Molony, won the Ladles' 

 Purse. His next horse. Enterprise, ran but once, 

 that was at Bellewstown, where he failed to gain a 

 "bracket." In September, 1840, Mr. Preston won his 

 first race at the Curragh, when Sunset beat Brenda, a 

 mare belonging to Mr. "Jemmy" Knaresboro, in a match 

 for a hundred aside " over the course." Some months 

 afterwards Sunsetwona small stakes at Trim. In March, 

 1845, ^^^' Preston rode Brunette for the Kilrue Cup. 

 She was placed fourth, Mr. Hicks' Regulator, under 



