Killarney Races
Lying at the foot of Tore Mountain (on the extreme left), and ringed by hill and lake, Killarney Racecourse has the best scenic setting in these islands. The races, held in July of each year, are noted for large entries and large crowds. Every Irishman has a race in his blood even if he hasn't a horse in his paddock. "If they have three acres," complained a Government Report of last century, "they think they must have a horse", and "Bred in Ireland" has been the hallmark of many a winner at Ascot or Belmont Park. All roads lead to loam, and the limestone pastures of Ireland are second to none—not even to the renowned "Blue Grass" region of Kentucky—in their bone-building properties. A day of blue sky, breezy cloud, fluttering flags, excited people, glossy horses pounding the turf—what could be more convivial? Or what more admirable than the proud horse that is led: in by his owner? I have known, indeed, an owner (who had celebrated too previously) to be led in by his horse. But Irish races, after all, are sociable events.
It's there you'd see the jockeys and they mounted on most stately
The pink and blue, the red and green, the Emblem of our nation.
When the bell was rung for starting, all the horses seemed impatient,
I thought they never stood on ground, their speed was so amazing.
There was half a million people there of all denominations,
The Catholic, the Protestant, the Jew and Presbyterian. There was yet no animosity, no matter what persuasion, But failte and hospitality inducing fresh acquaintance.