Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub
[graphic][merged small]

went, no coursing could have been more enjoyed. Three horses could easily have been ridden down by one person on that day; and as it was, at the end of the day both horses, men, and dogs, were completely knocked up; but I am sure that all who were present will never forget it as long as they live, nor will they ever enjoy a day's coursing more. I do not say that all coursing should be like this, nor would it be necessary in order to kill hares, but a valuable hint may be taken from it as to how coursing should be enjoyed.

By a judicious selection of country, by choosing a light dry soil, and having plenty of range, by allowing the riders to ride well up to the dogs (which is no easy matter), by not beginning coursing till January or February, when hares attain their full strength and vigour, this sport may be enjoyed as it ought to be, and it may under such circumstances become as much pursued as ever. The best horses for the work are light, fast, well-bred horses, since a great pace, but not great power of endurance, is required, each gallop being by no means long. For an old sportsman, no hunting can be equal to coursing; for in the latter he can have his gallop, and then rest again while looking for hares: he can see all the sport, too, without having to ride over large fences; whereas, in the former, a man must ride at neck or nothing,; he must have a good seat, a good hand, and plenty of nerve, qualities which an ola sportsman cannot be expected to possess.

The great fault of coursing, as now practised, is, that too much attention is paid to rules, and too little to the enjoyment of coursing; nor is it pursued on a proper description or a large enough extent of ground: its great merit is, that it may be partaken of in a country quite unfit for hunting, and by persons who are no longer able to ride hounds.

up

to

IRISH BIRDCATCHER.

SIRE OF SONGSTRESS, THE BARON, DANIEL O'ROURKE, EXACT, &c., &c. ENGRAVED BY E. HACKER, FROM A PAINTING BY HArry Hall.

BY CASTOR.

Birdcatcher or as he is better known, to distinguish him from an English horse (a son of St. Patrick though) of the same name, "Irish Birdcatcher-was bred by Messrs. Hunter and Knox, of Kildare, in 1833. He is by Sir Hercules, out of Guiccioli, by Bob Booty, her dam Flight, by Escape (Irish), out of Young Heroine, by Bagot.

Sir Hercules bred by Mr. Lang, in 1826, was got by Whalebone out of Peri, by Wanderer-famous blood certainly. He was a good race horse, and with fair play it is thought might have accomplished even more than we now find in his name. He was, however, very successful on the Irish turf, and many of his stock have also appeared to great advantage over the Curragh. Amongst others, Maria, Langford, Cruiskeen, Arthur, Honest Ned, Waterwitch, Mulgrave, Gipsy, and Bird

M

catcher. He has been now for many seasons in England, having been brought over from the sister isle by Mr. Weatherly; at whose decease, in the spring of 1844, he was bought at the hammer by the Honourable Sidney Herbert for 900 guineas, and placed for that season at Messrs. Tattersall's Paddocks, Willesden. He was afterwards removed to his owner's seat, Wilton House, Salisbury, where he continued to the close of last year. He has lately again changed hands, and is now we see advertised to stand at Mr. Philips' stables, Bushbury, Wolverhampton. In the pick of his stock here we have Coronation, a winner of the Derby, Faugh-a-Ballagh (own brother to Birdcatcher), a winner of the St. Leger, Hyllus, Robert de Gorham, the Corsair, the Hydra, Venus, Newcourt, Vibration, Jenny Jones, Humdrum, Hardinge, Fire King, Hotspur, The Moor, Darkie, Knook-Knol, Cheerful, Simplicity, Landgrave (a winner of the Cambridgeshire), Knight of the Shire (a winner of the Cambridgeshire), &c., &c.

Guiccioli, bred by Mr. Blake in 1823, for many years played a good part on the turf, and proved still more valuable as a brood mare. She threw her first foal, Bijou, in 1829, having run as late as November, 1828. Her next foal, in 1830, died young from an accident in the paddock, and she was again put in to work, winning the Mares' Plate at the Curragh September Meeting. On her return to the stud she produced, amongst others, Birdcatcher, Faugh-a-Ballagh, George, May Boy, and the Connaught Ranger. Guiccioli died in the spring of 1851, in the possession of George Knox, Esq.

Irish Birdcatcher is a dark-chesnut horse, with white ticks running all over him. He stands as near as possible sixteen hands high; has rather a plain head, with a Roman nose, small ears, and not particularly good eye. He has a strong neck, fine shoulder, and good depth of girth; he has not very large arms, but fair-sized bone, with good back, barrel, and quarters. His thighs and hocks, however, are straightish; the latter, indeed, bad and curby looking, a failing in which some of his stock resemble him. Birdcatcher has a blaze of white in his forehead,

and one white leg behind.

PERFORMANCES.

In 1835, Birdcatcher, then two years old, at the Curragh October Meeting, carrying 8st. 1lb., was not placed for the Paget Stakes, won by Mr. E. Ruthven's Caroline, 7st. 11b., or as she was afterwards proved to be, Becassine, and a three instead of a two year old—the stakes being awarded to Mr. J. Kelly's Henrietta Colt, 7st. 131b., who ran second. This was Birdcatcher's only appearance during the season -the distemper preventing a further trial of what was considered a very superior two-year-old.

In 1836, at the Curragh April Meeting, Birdcatcher, carrying 7st. 13lb., won the second class of the Madrid Stakes of 25 sovs. each &c., beating Mr. Osborne's Maria, 7st. 71b. (2), Mr. Flood's Young Penelope, 6st. 12lb. (3), and the following, not placed: Mr. Barry's Quicksilver, 8st. 91b., Mr. Davis' Langford, 8st. 4lb., Mr. Jackson's Isora Colt, 7st. 10lb., Lord Miltown's Fusileer, 7st. 10lb., Mr. Pottinger's f. by Voltaire, 7st. 121b., and Mr. Watts' Spermaceti Colt, 7st. 121b. At the June meeting he won the Miltown Stakes of 50 sovs. each &c., mile and ahalf, beating Lord Miltown's Cushneiche at even weights; and at the

same meeting he received from the same colt in a match for 100 sovs. at 8st. 4lb. each. At the September meeting, carrying 7st. 71b., he ran second to Mr. Osborne's Maria, 3 yrs., 6st. 121b., for the Wellington Stakes of 30 sovs. each &c.; Colonel Westenra's Whim, 4 yrs. 8st. llb., third, and eight others not placed. At the same meeting, carrying 7st. 71b., he ran second to Whim, 8st. 1lb., in a challenge for the Wellington Stakes-Maria, at 7st. 4lb., third. At the October meeting, carrying 7st. 21b., he won a sweepstakes of 100 sovs. each, beating Mr. Somer's Normanby, 3 yrs., 7st. 2lbs. (2); and Colonel Westenra's Freney, 6 yrs., 8st. 121b. At the same meeting, carrying 7st. 12lb., he was not placed for the Mulgrave handicap, of 20 sovs. each, &c.-won by Lord Howth's Langford, 3 yrs., 7st. 91b.; Colonel Westenra's Whim, 4 yrs., 8st. 8lb., second. Three others also ran, including Lord Miltown's Cushneiche, 3 yrs., 6st. 10lb., who came in first, but was disqualified from a cross. At the November or Mulgrave meeting, carrying 8st. 4lb., he ran third to Mr. Burke's Waterwitch, 3 yrs., 7st. 1lb., for the handicap of 20 sovs. each, &c.; Mr. Watt's Blackfoot, 3 yrs., 8st., second. Five others also started, but were not placed.

In 1837, at the Curragh April meeting, Birdcatcher won the Kildare Stakes, of 10 sovs. each with 20 added, at weight for age, beating Colonel Westenra's Thump (2); Lord Miltown's Argirio (3); Mr. Watt's Blackfoot (4); Lord Mulgrave's Quicksilver, and Mr. St. George's Amidon colt. At the same meeting, carrying 8st. 5lb., he ran second to Blackfoot, 3 yrs., 7st. 11lb., for the Wellington Stakes, of 30 sovs. each, &c. Four others also started, but were not placed. He afterwards received from Blackfoot (6 extra), in a challenge for the Wellingtons. At the June meeting, at 8st. 71b., he received from Sir R. Bulkeley's Valencia, 6st. 131b., in a match for 200 h. ft. At the same meeting he won the King's Plate of 100 guineas, beating Mr. Watt's Croughpatrick (2), Mr. Kelly's Policy (3), Colonel Synge's Flycatcher, Mr. Hutching's Mameluke colt, and Mr. Phepoe's Bags filly. At the same meeting, at 9st., he ran second to Mr. Ferguson's Harkaway, 3 yrs., 7st. 8lb., for the Northumberland handicap, of 20 sovs. cach, &c.; six others also started. At the same meeting he ran third to Harkaway for a King's Plate, Lord Mulgrave's Gipsy second-and third to Colonel Westenra's Freney, for another; Mr. Watt's Langford second. He also received from Mr. Somer's Isora colt, in a match for 300 sovs. At the September meeting, carrying 9st. 2lb., he was not placed for the Wellington Stakes of 30 sovs. each, &c., won by Harkaway, 3 yrs., 7st. 91b.; six others also started. He was afterwards not placed in the challenge for the Wellington Stakes; won by Mr. Osborne's Mercury, 3 yrs., 7st. 5lb.

SUMMARY OF IRISH BIRDCATCHER'S PERFORMANCES.

In 1835 he started once without winning.

In 1836 he started seven times, won three, and received a match forfeit.

The second class of the Madrid Stakes, Curragh April

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« AnteriorContinuar »