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On the sideboard is the Grand Military Hunt Cup of 1878. To win 

 this cup Mr. Pallin had set his mind directly he joined the 20th Hussars 

 in 1871, and upon former occasions he ran third and fourth for it, but 

 in 1878 he won it with Theseus, ridden by Captain Lee Barber, Pallin 

 not being able to get the weight. It was for hunters that had never 

 won a race of £20, the property of officers of the Army and Navy, and 

 Mr. Pallin showed his judgment in producing the best of his year in 

 an animal he bought for 40gs. at Tattersall's. He has willed it that 

 when his third and youngest son, now a boy of six, can challenge for 

 it, the three brothers are to ride for this cup upon maiden hunters, 

 hunted solely by themselves, 12 stone each, three miles over Punches- 

 town. In the event of only cne competing, he is to ride over the 

 course for it. May we be there to see the father lead back the winner 

 after a good race between his three boys. 



The walls of Athgarvan Lodge are hung with racehorse portraits 

 executed in high art, conspicuous among them being originals of 

 Birdcatcher by Harry Hall, and The Baron by Herring, while many 

 are the work of the owner's own brush. 



Within the past two years the old dwelling has been repaired and a 

 lot added to it. The stables were previously remodelled and spacious 

 yards laid out whereon formerly stood useless outhouses. In a word, 

 from an old tumble-down concern, which it was but a few years 

 ago when Mr. Alan Macdonagh lived there, Mr. Pallin has made 

 the house about the very best at or near the Curragh, while the 

 out-offices are all that can be desired for the purpose of life which he 

 has laid out to follow — that of breeding thoroughbreds. Not one of 

 the many stud arms which I have visited in England surpasses in 

 excellence of design or management those of Athgarvan Lodge. 



Since he betook himself to the calling few men in Ireland have 

 done more, or perhaps as much, as he has towards the furtherance of 

 breeding thoroughbred stock. At present there stands at Athgarvan 

 Favo, by Favonius, out of Adrastia. He was a good racehorse at 

 all weights and distances, having won fourteen and was placed 

 thirty- 6 ve times. He is, as we see, a magnificent specimen of a 

 weight-carrying thoroughbred stallion, and is sound as a bell, while his 

 breeding shows a grand combination of the best blood in the Stud- 

 book. On his sire's side he has that of Sweetmeat and Harkaway 

 through King Tom, while his dam gives him the mixed blood of 

 Stockwell and Newminster. No horse of late years has done 

 Irish breeders so much good as Favo. He has begat a prodigious 

 number of winners, and for four years has stood at the top of our 

 list as a sire of winning horses. 



Master Ned is also there, descended as he is from the best line of 

 Irish blood now available, a direct union of Birdcatcher and Harkaway. 

 Astrologer we also see — a son of Hermit, out of Stella — whose great- 

 grandsire was Melbourne. 



So well known are the Athgarvan yearlings that at Doncaster during 

 the St. Leger week they fetch a high average price. 



