Eustace Loder

Major Eustace Loder, JP (16th May 1867 – 27 July 1914) was an Irish horse racer and sportsman.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Born in Sussex on May 16th 1867, Major Eustace Loder was educated at Eton College and Trinity College Cambridge. 
===Career===
=====Military=====
In University as a candidate he received his commission into the 12th Royal Lancers in 1887. He was Adjutant of his regiment from 1895 to 1899. and was popular among his brother officers. In 1902 Major Loder sent in his papers, and took up his quarters at Eyrefield Lodge, the Curragh, County Kildare, which he had purchased in 1896, on the death of its previous owner, Mr. Linde. 
=====Riding=====
Loder had begun racing soon after he had entered the Army, having registered his father's old colours, yellow, dark blue sleeves and black cap, in 1889; these were first carried in Major Loder's name by steeplechasers. The first good Steeplechasers he possessed was Field Marshall, by Border Minstrel out of Rouge Gagne. Field Marshall won numerous races in good company, among them the Mammoth Hunters' Steeplechase at Sandown Park Racecourse in 1892, and the Grand Military Gold Cup in 1895, which he latter won in a canter by five lengths, with 'Soarer' and 'Midshipmite' among the ten behind him: Captain Crawley rode the horse in both races. Other good performers between flags owned by Major Loder at various times have been:
*Hackler-Cinnamon, who four times won the Conyngham Cup at Punchestown Racecourse; 
*Marpessa, winner of the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown Park Racecourse in 1903;
*Shaker, winner of the Sefton Steeplechase in 1898
*Covert Hack
*Banstead
*Yorkshireman
*Soltykoff
*Cornelius
*Ravenswood
The first important flat race that fell to Major Loder was the Ascot Stakes which was won by the four-year-old mare Billow, in 1892. She had been purchased from Tom Cannon, by whom Major Loder's horses were trained; Billow subsequently became the dam of Saltpetre. In 1896, as already said, Major Loder bought Eyrefield Lodge; on acquiring the place he bought over his brood mares from England and established his Stud (animal) there. He began well in his new quarters, for it was in 1898 that Astrology threw Star Shoot to Isinglass (horse). Star Shoot's two-year-old career promised a great future. During the season of 1900 he won three races, and ran a dead heat with Ian for the National Stakes (Sandown Park), crediting his owner with 4,430 sovs. Unfortunately, Star Shoot became roarer, and was therefore sold to go to America.
In 1901 Major Loder's best horse was Game Chick, a brown filly by Gallinule out of a mare named Tierce, for which Major Loder had paid 360 gs. As a yearling at the Yardley Stud Sale in 1892. Tierce proved an excellent investment; for Game Chick in 1901 obtained six brackets, the total value of her wins exceeding 9.000 sovs. Her first win was the Princess's Cup for two-year-olds at the Newmarket Racecourse First July; her next the National Stakes (Sandown Park); her third win was note-worthy, in as much as it was the Champagne Stakes (Great Britain) at Doncaster, when she beat Sceptre, who started at 11 to 8 on. After winning the Autumn Breeders' Plate easily and the Michaelmas Plate by two lengths at Manchaster, she finished her two-year-old career in a sensational fashion by beating Ard Patrick a neck for the Dewhurst Plate. Game Chick afterwards became property of Sir Tatton Sykes, 5th Baronet.
====Other Appearances====
Major Loder had been a model for the famous cartoonist Leslie Ward that drew many cartoons that were published by the Vanity Fair paper. A notable drawing is ‘Spearmint’ (After his most famous horse) a cartoon that Loder had taken in 1906. 
Major Loder posing for Leslie Ward, Published 5th September 1906.
Labled ‘Spearmint’|242x242px
===Personal life===
He remained unmarried for the rest of his life, accustomed to his mistresses he persued his carear of horse breeding and racing. 
Category:1867 births
Category:People from Sussex
Category:English people
Category:Horse races
Category:Sportsmen