154 



In this picture are strikingly good likenesses of some of the leading: 

 steeplechase notorieties of Ireland in that day. The scene is laid at the 

 wall with the Furry Hill as background. The portraits include those 

 of Lords Waterford, Drogheda, Conyngham, Howth, St. Lawrence^ 

 Clonmell, and Cloncurry ; Messrs. John Preston, Sam Reynell, Fleetwood 

 Rynd, William Kennedy (then Master of the Kildare Hounds), Colonel 

 Campbell, Major Dickson, and Sir Philip Crampton. Those in silk 

 mounted to start are Captain William Hely-Hutchinson on Torrent, 

 who won the race. Captains Barnard, Warburton, Severne, Wombwell,, 

 Chichester, Barclay, and Hutton, also Messrs. Wilkin, Boyce and Price. 

 Out of that group there now remain alive, as far as I know, only three 

 or four. 



In the year 1 860 the Kildare gentlemen conceived the idea of recon- 

 structing the old system upon new lines, and, headed by the Marquis 

 of Drogheda and Lord St. Lawrence (the present Earl of Howth), pub- 

 lished an article for 1861, under the title " The Kildare and National 

 Hunt Steeplechases." There were seven races for £770 added money — 

 four of which had an additional sweepstakes of £5 each — and there 

 was the Kildare Hunt Cup, value £50, for members only. 



The above inaugurated the National Hunt Steeplechase, which was 

 for £300, added to a £5 sweep, three and a half miles. This was far 

 and away the biggest stake hitherto offered for a race in Ireland. Of 

 the many horses entered, 35 accepted and 27 started, and the race 

 resulted as follows : — 



Captain McCraith's The Rug Owner 1 



Mr. Thomas Harper's Tickle Toby Mr. George Knox 2 



Mr. William McGrane's Ben Bolt Captain Townley 3 



So eminently successful did this meeting prove, that for 1862 

 the Stewards gave £900 for eight races, five of which had sweepstakes 

 added of from £3 to £5. In addition the 4th Dragoons had their 

 private challenge cup and the Kildare Hunt had theirs. 



Lords Drogheda and St. Lawrence continued to be the leading spirits 

 of Punchestown for some years. After a time, however, the latter 

 nobleman gave up taking active part, and the whole management 

 devolved upon Lord Drogheda, and to his able and fostering care are we 

 indebted for the steady progress made up to the present time, when 

 Punchestown stands, as it has stood for many years, unrivalled by any 

 steeplechase meeting under the sun. 



Lord Drogheda had a zealous and able lieutenant in the late Mr. 

 Thomas G. Waters, who threw his whole soul into the work, and 

 carried out with determined energy all the improvements which give 

 Punchestown its place. The improvements were judiciously begun in a 

 small way, but gradually they were increased, until now, for convenience 

 and extent, the stand, enclosure, and course arrangements rival any in 

 the kingdom, and surpass most. Yes, to Lord Drogheda and the late 

 Mr. Waters we owe Punchestown,* which, since the first visit of the 



