200 



with racehorses during the past quarter of a century would be 

 impossible for me. But have they not been chronicled over and over 

 again ? I will merely say that no man of modern, nor perhaps of 

 former, days has gained such celebrity over steeplechase courses. 

 For years past he has furnished more favourites for the Grand 

 National than any other two owners or trainers put together, and 

 I doubt if the same number can total among them as many of their 

 horses having won, been placed, and ran forward in that race as he 

 can. I have no Calendar by me, but from memory I know within 

 the last fifteen years he has prepared for the Grand National two 

 winners in Empress and Woodbrook, while Martha and Cyrus lost in 

 their respective years by short heads only. Fair Wind, Too Good, 

 and Mohican in other years ran into third place. Other horses 

 from his stable may have been placed, but I am safe in stating 

 that every Eyrefield horse which started for the Grand National, 

 except the one or two which fell, had many more after than before 

 him at the finish. The Seftoa Steeplechase at the Liverpool Autumn 

 Meeting has been won by his representatives more frequently than 

 by those of any other man in the kingdom, steered as they were 

 nearly always by Mr. Harry Beasley. 



No one stands more prominently in the winning records at Chan- 

 tilly than Mr. Linde, Too Good, Whisper Low, Mohican, and 

 Seaman alone establishing for him that position. Over our own 

 famed Punchestown for the past twenty years no stable has at all 

 come near that of Eyrefield. For years the Prince of AV ales' Plate 

 and Conyngham Cups have gone to it, while all the other races, bar 

 of course the Farmers' and perhaps the Kildare Hunt Cup, have often 

 from time to time been won by horses under his care, while the 

 records of Cork, Baldoyle, old Curraghmore, Leopardstown, and 

 every other meeting in Ireland, including the Curragh, return scores 

 of winners supplied by him. 



What I don't think any one of his profession can say, he owes to no 

 man his acquirements. He taught himself. Starting life in quite 

 a different sphere, he soon gave up the calling and betook him- 

 self to that which he innately was so pre-eminently gifted for. Nor 

 was that until he had got well into the fourth decade of his age. 



To the master of Eyrefield the training of a flat- racer is as easy to 

 superintend as is that of the chaser. A five-furlong sprint, a Queen's 

 Plate, or a two-mile timber-topping are all alike to him. At the 

 same time he likes best the cross-country work, and of that I know 

 he very much prefers the natural to the artificial business. To lead 

 back a winner over Punchestown or Aintree is to my friend his 

 greatest pride and satisfaction. 



In another particular the subject of my notice differs greatly from 

 other gentlemen trainers. He knows how to mate judiciously and 

 scientifically thoroughbred mares and stallions. This is evident to 

 anyone looking over the foals, yearlings, or other thoroughbred 

 youngsters at Eyrefield. 



