The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-09-24

luck TO Boe an Irish race! We say good
luck advisedly, for Of all the places ou this
terrestrial globe for "divilment," dancing"
and "divarshion" OF all sorts an Irish race
course cannot be eqallcl. "Only itself can
be its parallel" As we fear among our
tens OF thousands Of readers, much ~ they
might enjoy such thing, few have bad the
opportunity, we viii essay feebIy 10 describe
race we assisted ut" some fifteen years
ago in that country immortaIized in song "a
containing Zine rowing blades and sweet
pretty maids" to wit, old Kilkenny. To
all c0nversant with Irish sporting matters it
ia well known that Kilkenny in those days
was the paradise of Irish sporting men, and
its Hunt Club the most fastdious M well
"a the most hospitable in Ireland.
At the time | speak Of, although from
various causes on the wanc, it counted
among its members the names Of Lords
Waterford Desart, Clonmel, Cliflen,
IIowth, Kildare, st. Lawrence, Mount
Charles, Lord james Butler, and Others,
the cream Of the Irish nobility, besides sey-
eral English noblemen. Not less noble,
though untitled, were several Of the gentry
Of the county, amongst whom were the well
known names Of Sir John Power, Of Xii.
fame sir Rochard Coke, Of Castletown ::
the ~. Georges, DE Montmorencys, 1ighes,
Iilundens, Bushes, &c, all men Of unbIem.
ished lineage, and residents on their own
estates Perhaps no hunt in the United
Kingdom Melton Mowbray not excepted
could produce finer horses, or, for that mat
ter, finer men, than field day in Kilkenny.
II was on bright and u balmy day in
the latter part Of October that | mounted
my horse 10 proceed 10 the race ground. a
distance Of some five miles from the house
of relative, where had been staying. /
had gone down from Dublin specially TO be
present at these races and had been for
some days hearing the most exciting, and
must contradictory, accounts regarding the
merits Of the horses to be engaged in GER
tain race for the "huntcrs plate" in which
the horses were 10 be ridden By a gentle
man Of the Kilkenny Hunt Club in a
stecplc chase across the country
Although there were some five or six
horses entered in this race, it was generally
conceded that the contest would lie between
two and ~ these animals belonged 10 rival
families, named NowIan and w alsh from
nearly the same part of the county, who
each had their partisans prepared TO defend
their champions with oil sorts Of weapons.
tho excitement, as may be imagined ran
very high. Two distinguished members Of
the Hunt Club had promised TO ride them.
( The rival horses were called Whalcbone and
Peep o'Day Boy, and were certainly rs fine
specimens u the Irish hunter a. could be
seen. While Mr.. Baker was TO steer Pecp
o'Day Boy, Mr.. st. George rode Whale
bone. The admirers of Whalebone would
say "Wait till Mr.. Sin George finds
Whalebone under him maybe he won't
take the consatc out o. thin NowIaps-bo-
daghs. The diyl a finer horse ever thrun a
leap, or bouldher rider ever sthraddled a
pig skin" While. on their part the back.
crs Of Peep o'Day Boy were Of the opinion
That the divil resave the sight or q light
OF the 'kup one OF the Washes i'll ever see,
wild such an auld glandered garrawn az
! Whalebonc. Cock them up with n silver
kup '--onangh' The divil kup. -
These, 1t must be confessed, were very con
Trajectory opinions, aud afforded rather
slight material to make safe book up.
on; and, IA generally risked sovereign
or two in those days upon race. lust TO
make il interesting" thought would try
TO discover in some less interested quarter,
All indication Of the real state Of the case.
Accordingly, one or two days before the
race, loungeI round to my friends stables
TO smoke my after dinner cigar. and after
presenting plug Of cavendish TO John, the
groom, asked his opinion on the merits of
the rival horses
John, after rctilliug and rc-lighting his
pipe process which in Ireland il one of
great pcrplcxity and dclibcration, and which
must be seen to be appreciated -hemmed
oracularly, spat twice, wiped bis mouth with
the back Of lis hand, and proceeded TO en-
tighten me after the following fashion -
why, You see, your honor, thin Nowlaus
Is always boastin av the cattle they rare !;
but | wish 10 gracious we were as sure iy
the RcPae this nigh, IA that Whalebone
will show him nothin' but his tail over that
coorse- that's'if Mr.. Sin George can only
hould him"
This was certainly oracuar. and | knew
enough Of johns peculiar forms Of expires,
sion to be satisfied that "Whalebone" WAS
the horse 20 back. and accordingly invest.
cd on HIM with what result will be sep.
The roads to the course were crowded
with sturdy pedestrians and wcll,mountcd.
iriezc. coated Farmers from the Walsh noun
tains, all eagerly discussing the merits II the
several horses, while every description of We
hicle. from the handsome barouchc. with IT,
four posters, TO the Thing you Know.
with straw bed Tor cushions, and MI.
beaded farmers wife, sitting in great state,
for It's occupant, blocked the way, Some
OF the scenes on the road To the course were
Of the mos, lud'cruu' character, and could
certainly ne, be- Witnessed oa, If Ireland. 49,
On the arrival at the gate leading 10 the
coarsc the crowd became almost impass,,ble.
ami, a small i,Nc b,'ing lcmtudc,l from horse
Ucn and carriages, all sorts IL schemes were
put into rpui>it,ou g. cvadr IT, Herr.