205 



to do, would indeed have brought down the stands, or rather sent up 

 the cheers of those on them. 



It is equally certain that if Frigate had not been carried out of the 

 course by Usna when he broke down, and had to be pulled up to avoid 

 going into the canal, she would have won by twenty lengths, giving 

 Willie a blue ribbon. 



As I said elsewhere, I don't accord to ordinary owners of racehorsea 

 much credit simply because they happen to possess great horses. 

 The one who, in my opinion, deserves laudation is the man, like Harry 

 Beasley, who can train a horse as he did Comeaway, and on him 

 carry off the Grand National, that win being, in point of weight and 

 time, the best on record except Bourton's in 1854.* 



These five brothers are quite as popular as they are skilful. 



Come, come, we must be off, for we have been nearly as long with 

 these three gallant young fellows as we were at Athgarvan and Eyre- 

 field, so, driver, hurry on, for we have no other place to stop at till we 

 come near the Stand House, which is nearly four miles off. 



Hullo, pull up ! Get down, my friends, till I show you our famous 

 Donnelly's Hollow. Yes, here it was that on the memorable 13th 

 December, 1815, Dan Donnelly the Irishman beat George Cooper the 

 Gipsy. Was there ever selected a better site for a prize fight ? 

 Upon this sward, level as a billiard table, the twenty-four foot ring 

 was pitched. Around it ample space was afforded within their inner 

 circle for the upper ten, while the high sloping banks which surmount 

 three sides of the plateau sheltered from the wind the gladiators, at 

 the same time affording the occupants of the outer ring a full view of 

 the battle, standing, as they could do in this natural amphitheatre, in 

 rows one above the other. I don't suppose a spot more naturally 

 adapted to the purpose of a fight could be found anywhere. 



In 1888 this monument was erected by public subscription to mark 

 the site of the great battle, and to commemorate the skill and 

 endurance of a brave Irishman. See how the pretty little erection 

 with its neat railing has been defaced by thoughtless people, who with 

 Goth and Vandal notions break off pieces to carry away as mementoes ! 



From Donnelly's Hollow to the Stand House, on the north side of 

 the Curragh, we have no racing stables, although in days gone by 

 at Crotanstown were housed good horses. 



There is the road to Newbridge, and here at this corner is the place 

 where I got the upseb which you saw the illustration of at Linde's. 

 Yes, returning to Newbridge about four years ago, after spending a 

 festive night at Eyrefield Lodge, I and two others got here about as 

 complete a capsize off a jarvey as ever men got. The driver, enter- 

 tained no doubt by " Dan " with the hospitality proverbial at that 

 house, would not be restrained from driving full speed along the road 

 we have ju^t travelled, although the night was dark as Erebus. You 



* Since I wrote the above Cloister has won carrying 12.st. 71b. ; and poor 

 Willie Beasley has been killed. 



