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four-foot drain to cross twice in each heat." Another old letter relates 

 how the writer " had seen two Irish horses in a race leap a river which 

 measured twenty-two feet clear." 



One hundred years ago, unless the owner entered his horse in person, 

 it was necessary in Ireland to swear an affidavit to prove the qualifi- 

 cation of a hunter. This is copy of a form used : " I, Walter Butler, 

 of Cregg, Gent., maketh Oath, and sayeth that a bay gelded horse, 

 called Kasper, which deponent [by his servant] now offers to enter, and 

 run for the hunter's Plate, at Galway, never started for either Match or 

 Plate [but a fair hunter's Plate], and has been actually used as a huater, 

 at the last season, and not only to get the name, but really as a hunter ; 

 nor has he been in sweats with an intention to run, but only from Lady 

 Day last." They were more particular then about the qualification of 

 hunters than we are now. 



The first regular steeplechase in Ireland was got up in 1803, but no 

 authentic record has been kept of it. 



A six days' meeting used to take place over the Annagh course at 

 Westport in the early years of the century. The stewards were the 

 Marquis of Sligo and Mr. Martin Blake, while the late Mr. Hunter's 

 father was judge. The late Marquis of Sligo was a great sportsman. 

 It was he who bred the famous Waxy, Langar, and other horses, and it 

 was he who presented to our Turf Club the Sligo Whip. The present 

 Earl of Sligo has lived out of Ireland for several years, and his splendid 

 castle, on the borders of Clew Bay, is tenanted by a caretaker. 



On St. Patrick's Day, 1813, a memorable meeting took place at Eath- 

 crogan, in the county Roscommon. "The distance was six miles, over 

 six walls, five feet high, and several yawning ditches. It was weight 

 for age, the stakes being one hundred guineas. The runners were: 

 Mr. G. Harkans' Young Blacklegs, 4 years ; Mr. W. French's mare by 

 Swordsman, 5 years ; Mr. J. French's Peter Finnerty, G years ; Mr. 

 Plunkett's Baronyboy, 8 years ; Mr. B. Blake's Merryman, 5 years :. 

 and Mr. J. French's Wellington, 5 years. The latter was favourite at 

 starting, and there was an excellent race between him and Young 

 Blacklegs for the first five miles, when Wellington refused, and 

 Young Blacklegs won easily; the mare by Swordsman was second." 



About 1815 the all-important question of weight seems to have 

 come up for consideration, for in a four mile 'chase at Dungarvan, for 

 a plate of fifty guineas, we find the horses carried twelve stone each. 

 Another contest at Lismore is described as "a regular tumble-down 

 race." The winner, Mr. Foley's Brown Bess, fell four times, while the 

 horse which came in third had been down no less than six times. "In 

 all," the report says, '" there were twelve falls, but no one was killed. 

 Betting even at starting that there would be six falls." 



Galway, ever since the time the Eastern men were driven into 

 Connaughtby Cromwell, has furnished hard riderij. In all parts of the 

 country are still to be seen places where Burkes, Blakes, Bodkins, and 

 Martins rode over, either for a wager, in a pounding match, or steeple- 



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