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gentlemen jockeys. First, they come of a good old Irish family, 

 which for many years resided in the County Kildare. The brothers 

 under notice are Thomas, Harry, William, John, and James. I may 

 say, without fear of cavil or contradiction, that never in racing history 

 has there been a record of so many of the one family possessed of 

 such excellence in horsemanship. I know these young men well, but 

 even so I beg they will excuse my calling them in this book by the 

 names they are universally known by, for fear that some of my 

 readers might not quite know who were "Mr. Thomas Beasley " or 

 " Mr. Henry Beasley," whereas Tommy and Harry Beasley are known 

 all over the civilised globe. 



Well, anticipating the forgiveness of these fine fellows, I begin with 

 the eldest. Tommy. He was brought up at the feet of that great 

 master of steeplechasing, the late Mr. Alan Macdonagh, than whom, 

 with his brother William, there were no cross - country jockeys 

 superior in olden time. After getting his first lessons from that 

 mentor he came under the banner of Mr. Linde, where for many years 

 past he has remained. To give a full account of this fine horseman's 

 achievements I shall not attempt. A few, however, may be men- 

 tioned. He won three Liverpool Grand Nationals on Empress, Wood- 

 brook, and Frigate ; Croydon Steeplechase of four miles on Pride 

 of Kildare ; Paris Steeplechase on Whisper Low, and Birmingham 

 Grand Annual Steeplechase on Abdullah. At Punchestown some of 

 his principal wins were Prince of Wales' Plate on Eyretield (the first 

 four-year-old that ever won it) ; two Conyngham Cups on Cork and 

 Christmas Gift, and at the meeting of 1892 the Kildare Hunt Cup on 

 Xap, showing that his right hand still retains its cunning. His win 

 on Christmas Gift in the Conyngham of 1876, when quite a youngster, 

 was very meritorious, for he beat by a neck, after a desperate race, 

 the crack Mr. Garry Moore on Scots Grey. 



He holds a record in the Grand National quite unparalleled. 

 Out of twelve rides he won three times, as stated above, was second 

 twice on Martha and Cyrus, who each lost the race by half-heads, 

 was third on Martha, and fourth twice on Sultana and Cruiser. 

 Spahi fell with him at the first fence in 1887 ; and Frigate, in 1890, 

 when going well, and with a good chance of scoring her second win, 

 although carrying 12st. 7lb., was knocked down by the French horse 

 Fetische. He rode Zitella in 1883 and 1884, but I forget whether she 

 stood up or not. Anyway, out of the twelve mounts he gave a good 

 account of himself in eight, and it is certain that two, at least, of 

 the others fell. He won twice in succession, in 1880 and 1881, and 

 lost it by only a short head the year after. 



On the flat Mr. Tommy Beasley is as good as between the flags. 

 At the Curragh he won its Derby on Pet Fox, Tragedy, and Narragh- 

 more, several Queen's Plates with Spahi, Carmelite, Red Prince, 

 Chatterbox, May Boy, etc. He also with two-year-olds won many of 

 the Waterfords and Angleseys. With Spahi he beat Fred Archer for 



