IRISH ROYAL PLATES

Between the Flags, by S J Watson, page 5, quoting from The Life and Errors of John Dunton, volume II, page 374, which refers to John Dunton's visit to Ireland in 1688, says - 'His Majesty for encouragement to breed large and serviceable horses in this kingdom has been pleased to give a hundred pounds per annum out of his treasury here to buy a plate, which they run for at the Curragh in September. The horses that run are to carry twelve stone each'. It would seem that 1688 here is an error for 1698 as according to The Life and Errors of John Dunton he was only in Ireland for about eight months in 1698. The quote is an extract from a letter dated London, 20 April 1699, and the full text referring to the King's Plate reads :-
'His Majesty, for encouragement to breed large and serviceable horses in this Kingdom, has been pleased to give 100l a year out of his Treasury here, to buy a Plate, which they run for at the Curragh in September. The Horses that run are to carry twelve stone each; and therefore there are several fine horses kept hereabouts for the Race, in Stables built for the purpose. There is another Race yearly run here, in March or April, for a Plate of 100 guineas, which are advanced by subscription of several Gentlemen; and the Course is four measured miles.
On Thursday, September 13 was the Race run this year for the King's Plate. There was a vast concourse of people to see it, from all parts of the Kingdom. My Lord Galway (one of the Lords Justices) was present at the Race, and other persons of great quality. I met on the Curragh (where the Race was run) with my worthy friend, Mr Searl, and several others that I knew in Dublin. After the Race was over, our Company rode to Ballimany. At this village is a little thatched house, like one of our English country houses, built by the Earl of Meath. After we had seen all the rooms in this Nobleman's thatched house, we left Ballimany, and dined that day at Naas, and reached Dublin about nine in the evening '
The mention in the letter of Lord Galway as one of the Lords Justices places this race in 1697, 1698 or 1699. The date of the letter, 20 April 1699, rules out 1697 and 1699 and places it in 1698 but the letter states the race was run 'this year'. As the race can't possibly have been run in 1699 it can be assumed that 'this year' was used in the sense of 'within the last year' which places the race in September 1698. In 1698 September 13 fell on a Tuesday so it is open to speculation whether this race was run on Tuesday, September 13 or Thursday, September 15

According to Pond's Sporting Kalendar for 1752, pages 106 and 107, the Royal Plates at the Curragh of Kildare were run on Wednesday September 7 and Friday September 9. These are not recognised dates in either the Julian or the Gregorian calendars. The dates for these days of the week were Wednesday September 9 and Friday September 11 by the Julian calendar, and Wednesday September 20 and Friday September 22 by the Gregorian calendar
See THE CALENDAR IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND