The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-10-08
CAROLINA SPARTAN,
- From the Philadelphia Press. :
AN RISH ACE.

did any of our readers ever have the good
tuck to see an Irish racel We say good
luck advisedly. for Of all the places on this
terrestrial globe for "divilment," "dancing,"
aud "divarshion" OF, all sorts an Irish race
course cannot be equslled. "Only itself can
6e its parallel" As we fear among our
tens Of thousands of readers much as they
might enjoy such thing. few have had the
opportunity, we will essay ieebly to describe
.artace we assisted at" some fifteen years
ago in that country immor,alzed in song
as containing, "fine rowing blades and sweet
pretty maids,"tto wit, old Kilkenny To all
-conversaat with Irish-sportiug matters it is
well known that Kilkenny in those DAYS
was the paradise Of Irish sporting men, and
ats Hunt Club the most fastidious as well
astLe most 'hospitabe in Ireland
AT the time speak OF, although from
various caiNes ou he wa6e, il counted
amongst lis members the names of Lords
Waterford, DesaH, Clonmel, Clifden Howth
hii'sare, ST. Lawrence, Mount Charles, Lord
Jsmes Butler, and others, the cream of the
Irish nobility, besides several English no
blemen. Not less noble, though untitled.
were several of The gentry Of the country.
amongst whom Were the we'll known names
OF Sir John Power, OF Klfane; Sir Rochard
Coke, OF Castletown; the, st. Georges, De
Montmerencys. Tighes, Blunders. Bushes.
&c, al! tncn'of utiblemshed Lineage. and
residents on liieir own estates. Perhaps no
: hpntin the United Kingdom Melton Now
bray not excepted) could produce Fl er hor.
ses, or, for that matter, finer men. ,h,n a
field day in Kilkenny.
Al was on Il bright and b;,lmy dag in the
.sattef part of October that mounieI my
horse 60 proceed TO the race ground, a dis
rtance Q. saine i've mics from ilte house of
x relative, where ! had been staying. had
gone down trom Dubiia specially to be pres
ont at these races, aud had been fpr Some
days hearing the most exciting, and must
add contradictory, accounts regarding the
merits OF the horses 10 DO Engaged in \ Ger.
tain race for the "hunter's plate" in which
The horses were TO be ridden bv gentlemen
at the Kilkenny Hunt Club in stecple
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 he ween
two; aud as these animals belonged TO RI
val farmers, named Nowen and Walsh.
from nearly the same part of the country,
who each had their partisans prepared 10
defend their champions with all sorts of
weapons, the excitement, as may he iinag
ined, ran very high. Two distinguished
members of the Hunt Club had promised
to ride them. The rival horses We're called
@Whalebone and Peep oDay Boy, and were
certainly rs fine specimens Of the Irish hun
Ter as could well be seen. While Mr.. Ba.
ker was to steer Peep o'Day Boy, Mr.. 81.
George rode Whaebone. The admirers of
Whaiebone would say, AWAIT till Misther
Sin George finds WhaIebone under him:
may be he won't take the consate out o
thin Nowlans -bodaghs. The divil a finer
+ horse ever thrun a lep or boudher rider
ever sthraddled pig skin Willie on
their part, The hackers of Peep o'Day Boy
were of the opinion THAT the divl resaye
the sight or light of the 'I:up' one of the
Washes id ever see. wild sich an oula plan
dered garrawn as Whalebone. Cock them
up with silver 'kup'-anoayhi The diyil
q .kup.'" These, it must be confessed. were
very contradictory opinions, and afforded
rather slight material to make safe
"5ook" upon; and, as I generally risk
ed sovereign or two in those days upon
3 q race, lust to make it interes,ine.n |
thought would try TO discover in some less
interested quarter an indication OF The real
. state OF the case. Accordingly, one or two
days before the race, lounged around to
my friends stables, TO smoke my a!rer din
ner cigar, and, after presenting a plug Of
cavendish to John, the groom, asked his
opinion on the merits OF he rival horses.
Joiu, after re filling and re.hghling his
Pips--a process which in Ireland is oae of
great csmploxily and deliLeration, and
which must be seen TO be appreciated
hemmed oracularly, spat twice, wiped his
mouth with the back of his hand, and pro-
ceeded TO enlighteu me after the following
fashion: "Why, you see, your honor, thin
Nowlans is always boas,in' nv the cattle
they rare; but wish TO gracious we were as
sure iv the Repale this night AS ,bat
bWhalebone' will show thin nothin' but bis
tail over that coorse-that's il Mr.. Sin
George can only hold him"
~ This was certainly oracular, and knew
enough Of Johns peculiar forms of expires.
sion TO be satisfied that "Whalebone" was
the horse TO back, and accordingly invest
ed on him---with what result viii be seen.
The roads TO the course were crowded
with sturdy pedestrians and well.mounted
sfrieze- coated farmers from the Walsh noun.
tains, all eagerly discussing the merits of
the several horses, while every description
Of vehicle. from the handsome bsrouche.
With lis four posters, TO the "Thing.you.
Kuow," with n straw bed for cushions, and q
/, rcd beaded farmers wife, sitting in great
sAeto for it's occupant blocked the wav