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It has taken us nearly two hours to go over this model stud farm, 

 visiting as we did the stables, stallion yard, paddocks, brood mares 

 and foals, yearlings, and last, but not least, the kennels, wherein Mr. 

 Pallin has some fifteen couple of as nice-looking harriers as are to 

 be seen in Ireland. We must, therefore, bid adieu and good luck to 

 the genial master. 



While our trap goes round by the road I take my friends a short 

 cut across a few fields which brings us to Eyrefield Lodge. This, 

 I need not say, is the residence of him who I think I may call our 

 Irish Mat Dawson. In fact, Mr. Henry Eyre Linde takes higher 

 honours than the English champion, for, in addition to the flat-racer, 

 he can, as the world knows, train a steeplechaser, which the latter 

 cannot do. Unlike other gentlemen trainers, Mr. Linde resides in 

 the home of his ancestors, where he was born, and as far back as 1807 

 the place is marked on the map of The Curragh as the residence of 

 Eyre Linde, Esq. He has within the past few years enlarged 

 his stabling to a very great extent, and in a style which brings it 

 more like that of Newmarket than any other near the Curragh. 

 The stalls are loose boxes, capable of accommodating in all fifty 

 to sixty horses. At the farther end from the house is the farmyard, 

 and there are found cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry of as good and 

 useful breeding as are the horses in the stables. Huge stacks of the 

 primest oats, with gigantic ricks of hay and straw, flank the lot and 

 shelter all from the Curragh gales. In addition to his own household, 

 Mr. Linde has of necessity a very extensive establishment comprising 

 over a score of men and boys ; but the Master of Eyrefield is, from 

 his own farmyard and garden, able nearly throughout the year to 

 provision the lot, great as the commissariat undertaking un- 

 doubtedly is. 



Two fields at the back of the stables is the private steeplechase 

 course. It was the first of the kind ever laid out in Ireland. In its 

 track, which is a mile and a quarter, is found every description of 

 fence to be met with on either English or Irish courses, and of 

 dimensions which require both riding and fencing to be executed in 

 the highest degree of excellence. This explains how Linde's horses 

 can always jump, and his men can always ride. 



After tramping round the track and returning to the house, we feel 

 inclined for further refreshment. This we partake of in the cosy 

 dining-room, the walls of which are decorated with portraits of Messrs. 

 Tommy and Harry Beasley on Empress, Woodbrook, Mohican, Whisper 

 Low, Too Good, Gamebird, and other steeplechase celebrities, which 

 bore away the palm of victory from Aintree, Paris, and from all parts 

 of Ireland. 



For many years Mr. Linde has had, as first lieutenant, Mr. Tommy 

 Beasley, and until lately his brother Harry assisted ; while as head lad 

 Dan McNally — " Eyrefield Dan " as he is called — has been a valuable 

 servant ever since Linde began his profession. 



To recount the marvellous achievements of this gentleman trainer 



