201 



Unlike as he is to other trainers of the first class, he is similar 

 to many of them in the one great golden rule — Linde has always 

 run his horses straight. I have known him ever since I saw him 

 leading in as winner at Fairyhouse, in 1873, Highland Mary, with 

 Mr. Tommy Beasley up, then but a boy. From that day to this 

 never has there been one word, or even a hint, against the way in 

 which the one man ran and the other rode horses. 



Highland Mary, bred in 1869, was the first really good animal Linde 

 owned, and although she cost him only £25, the achievements of this 

 mare laid the foundation of his fortune. She was by Solon out of 

 Scotia. She bred only one foal, the first Eyrefield by Uncas ; but he 

 as a four-year-old, and not fifteen hands, won the Prince of Wales' 

 Plate at Punchestown in 1881, and the Germans bought him for £1000. 

 Since then Linde prepared all the following horses, and, except a few, 

 for every race they ran : Empress, Woodbrook, Seaman, Cyrus, Martha, 

 Usna, Lord Tara, Turco, Gamebird, Mohican, Whisper Low, Fairwind, 

 Carmelite, Too Good, May boy, the two Eyrefields, Primrose League, 

 Niblick, Alexander, Chancery, Spahi, and quite a host of other clinkers 

 whose names 1 forget. Lord Tara and Gamebird did wonders for him, 

 yet all he paid for them was respectively £5 and £65. 



Although he takes charge of horses for his friends, he won't take any- 

 thing but good ones, and always holds a share in their ownership. 



Upon the conclusion of the racing on the second day at Punches- 

 town some five or six years ago, when he had won well-nigh every 

 race of the meeting, I heard him bidding good-bye to Lord Drogheda, 

 and winding up with, " I am sorry, my lord, Punchestown does not 

 continue for a few days longer, so that I might win some more of 

 your races" ! 



He has been surnamed The Farmer — I think by the late Captain 

 Joy — by reason of "farming" — i.e., winning — so many races. By 

 that title he is often styled by his friends. 



In Mrs. Linde her husband has found a partner in every way con- 

 genial. Of racing she is a capital judge, and takes as much interest 

 in it as he does. She is a brilliant rider to hounds, and hunts regularly 

 with the Kildares. They are alike generous and good, and dispense 

 charity right and left. 



At Eyrefield, as at Athgarvan, we have been for a long time, and as 

 time presses we must leave the hospitable abode where the jovial 

 master has entertained us the entire time with his amusing anecdotes 

 and unbounded heartiness. 



Within a couple of fields of Eyrefield Lodge, but farther away from 

 the Curragh towards Athgarvan village, stands Eyrefield House, 

 where three of the brothers Beasley superintend the training of a most 

 extensive and highly select lot of racehorses. This ancient edifice is 

 two-storied, and has at the back a most convenient and excellent 

 range of stabling, all kept in the most scrupulously tidy style. 



I must now say a few words about this celebrated family of 



