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I shall now leave this portion of my subject, for although it has 

 treated of only a very few of our greatest Irish horses, and those of 

 olden time, pedigrees and such particulars are not palatable to some 

 of the present generation, but it is well to let them know what we 

 Irish have done for the English Turf from its earliest history down to 

 this day. I have made allusion only to horses which stood at the 

 Curragh, leaving out scores and scores which stood in the country 

 many of them being quite as famous as some of those I have men- 

 tioned. Eclipse, of course, as everyone knows, was an Irish horse, 

 and belonged to Colonel O'Kelly, a forefather of the Kildare family, 

 but I don't know if he was ever located at the Curragh. 



Like other institutions, and mortals as well, the British Turf has 

 to thank luck for some of its greatness. It is to pure good fortune 

 that we are indebted for the great Stock well, for if we had not 

 escaped three distinct disasters, that horse and his strain would never 

 have been heard of. Here they are : — 



No. 1. Had Guiccioli been bought from Mr. Hunter by Mr. Jones, 

 she in all probability would never have been put to Sir Hercules, or 

 bred Birdcatcher — ergo, no Stockwell ! 



No. 2. Birdcatcher was very nearly being lost, for when a yearling 

 he got a severe attack of inflammation of the lungs, and was, at 

 Brownstown, actually turned out to die ! 



No. 3. Echidna was the property of Mr. Watts of Jockey Hall, but 

 she was no use for racing purposes. Her owner offered her in 1840 to 

 a. priest near the Curragh for £20, but his reverence would give only 

 £10. This was refused, and as Birdcatcher was standing close by at 

 Brownstown, Watts put the mare to him in 1841, and she foaled The 

 Baron. 



Were there ever more miraculous escapes ? 



It is certain that Harkaway during most of his racing career was 

 trained at Hossmore Lodge, but I can't say if he was located at the 

 Ourragh while at the stud. I must, however, before ending this chapter, 

 refer to the horse which was not alone the best ever bred in Ireland, but 

 was perhaps the best that ever carried a saddle. At the same time I 

 shall allude to his owner, who was as extraordinary as the horse. 



Thomas Ferguson was an Ulster man, and resided for many years at 

 Barkston Lodge, near Newry, but I don't know whether he was born 

 there or not. He began life in a linen factory, but having the love of 

 sport, particultirly racing, deeply ingrafted in him, it was not long before 

 he gave up the calico and took to silk. 



Coming south, and being an accomplished horseman, a good sports- 

 man, and genial companion, he soon made for himself a name, and 

 became a general favourite among racing men, so much so that after a 

 time he was elected member of the Cofi*ce Room. He ovned several 

 good horses, among them Teetotum, Beagle, Peacemaker, Barkston, and 

 Rust. This was the time when Alan and William Macdonagh were in 

 their prime as gentlemen steeplechase jockeys, but neither the brothers, 



