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loose boxes for 1,350 horses, ami now a branch of railway has been run on , 

 to the front of the premises. This, we need not say, is a great boon to 

 exhibitors, as it saves them the risk and bother of getting valuable young 

 horses full of exuberant spirits through the crowded streets of the metropolis. 

 In the first show held at BalFs Bridge there were only 589 competitors in 

 the various classes, while the attendance— ascertained for the first time — 

 was 17,736. Then, in 1882 there were 694 entries, with an attendance of 

 14,973 ; in 1883 there were 733 entries, and 19,980 visitors ; in 1884 the 

 entries numbered 806, while 26,558 persons paid for admission, and the 

 latter attendance was not reached again until 1887, when the entries stood 

 at 950, and the attendance reached 26,244. In 1888 the entries totalled 

 1,051, while the attendance reached 32,534 ; in 1889 the figures were— entries 

 1,075, attendance 36,711; in 1890 — entries 1,324, attendance 43,438; in 

 1891— entries 1,322, attendance 46,083; in 1892— entries 1,304, attendance 

 53,547, or nearly four times larger than it was eleven years ago. These 

 figures prove the yearly increasing popularity of the Show, which has 

 become quite an international gathering so far as the visitors are concerned. 

 The entries this year are 1,200, or about a hundred less than last year. The 

 trivial falling off can be accounted for in this waj-. Numbers of provincial 

 shows have been held throughout Ireland during the past few months, and 

 the dealers purchased scores of high- class horses which would otherwise 

 come to Ball's Bridge. Again, owners of middliog or rubbishy horses must 

 have learned by this time that Dublin is the wrong place to bring them to 

 at very considerable cost. Some years ago it was nothing unusual to see a 

 lot of moderate horses in a big class, but this is certainly becoming a thing 

 of the past. There is no gainsaying the fact that as well as "licking 

 creation," as our friends across the Atlantic would say — as regards our 

 great equine gathering we can defy all competitors so far as the production 

 of weight-carrying hunters— a fairly large number of which we saw and 

 admired j'esterday — is concerned. There are a number of causes to account 

 for this. In the first place we are blessed with an even temperature in our 

 climate, as there are no sudden transitions from heat to cold or vice versa. 

 The soil is for the greater part a limestone one, and it is a well-known fact 

 that on no other soil will young horses develop so much bone. Undoubtedly, 

 the Royal Dublin Society has effected a great deal of good in its laudable 

 efforts to improve the breeding of hunters in this country, and it is evident 

 that if it received adequate financial aid from the Government, it could 

 do a lot more in the waj' of improving the breeds of hunters, remounts, and 

 useful horses. Another gaeat good eftected by the Society was that it 

 has educated the people into the importance of breeding from sound 

 stallions. 



With every member of the executive committee doing his best to 

 promote the interests of this great Irish institution, and bringing our 

 Horse Show to the proud position it holds, and where among the 

 members perfect harmony has always prevailed, to make mention of 

 one more than another, perhaps, may not be fair. But, as in all bodies 

 consisting of so many members, some few must, of necessity, take the 

 lead, I don't think I can be found fault with when I name among the 

 for^.most my old friend and townsman Mr. Samuel Ussher Roberts 



