THIS week’s glance back in time features the North Kilkennys who, for many years, held their meeting at Gowran Park racecourse. They run at Ballyragget on Sunday next, March 19th.

In the sportsmans race on Sunday, April 24th, 1977 at Gowran the Ivon Keeling-ridden New Road beat the Alfie Evans-partnered Garfield Lad VI by a length, both horses carrying 12st 10lb. The hunt cup was won by the Bowe family’s Master Buck mare Jane Eyre who went on to breed 14 foals, her winners including American Eyre, Step On Eyre and Noble Eyre.