GREAT EQUESTRIAN FEATS OF THE RACE-HORSE. 458 
common sense are too often trifled with, and outraged in the 
case. 
In country courses, (so styled in contradistinction to 
the grand theatre of racing—the head-quarters— Newmar¬ 
ket,) the chief concern, plate or purse, is always decided by 
heats; since, otherwise, the few matches or sweepstakes, 
decided by a single heat would not take up sufficient time 
to complete the amusement of the day. Sweepstakes of 
hunters, however, are, by general custom, run the best of 
three heats. It is a good old sporting custom, and fair on 
both sides, for the winner of a maiden plate, or sweepstakes, 
to be demandable after the race at a certain stipulated sum. 
Newmarket Heath is the most spacious, and, indeed, the 
principal race-course in the world. It is situated at the 
west end of the town of Newmarket, in the counties of 
Cambridge and Suffolk, twelve miles east of Cambridge, 
and sixty miles nearly north of London. Races were in 
vogue in the eleventh century, and much frequented at 
Newmarket early in the reign of King Charles the First, 
The king’s stables at Newmarket are the place of entrance, 
and the weighing-place is at the King’s Stand. 
The Curragh of Kildare is the great and fashionable race¬ 
course of Ireland, and may be considered the Newmarket of 
that country. 
GREAT EQUESTRIAN FEATS OF THE RACE-HORSE. 
The following are a few among the many extraordinary 
eats performed by race-horses at different periods :— 
1752, March 30th.—Mr. Arthur Merrill’s, bay gelding, 
Skew Ball, got by the Godolphin Barb, with a weight of 
eight stone seven pounds, beat Sir Ralph Gore’s grey mare, 
Miss Sportly, got by Victorious, with a weight of nine 
etone, for three hundred guineas each, four miles on the 
