FORTY-FIVE years ago, in June 1975, the newly-formed Ballsbridge Sales held their first auction. Few could have imagined that the sale would eventually become one of the most important of its type, and a flagship for the company which later became Tattersalls Ireland.

That first Derby Sale saw 57 lots sold for 128,203gns and an average price of 2,263gns.

I was reminded of this upcoming anniversary when I came across a four-page pamphlet which the company issued at the end of that first year, giving details of their 1976 sales calendar and profiling the team.

The chief executive of the new company was racehorse owner and businessman Michael Opperman and he had a full-time staff at the time of just five. John Clarke was the bloodstock manager while Tony Moss was the accountant. The administration was carried out by Anne Weaver, Dorothy Newman and Yvonne O’Brien. All three had strong racing or breeding connections.

Well-known National Hunt jockey and former Olympian John Harty, alongside Michael Hillman, was on the road in search of horses to sell. Michael was then manager of his family’s Old Fairyhouse Stud where Be Friendly and Pal’s Passage were at stud. Michael’s role expanded over the years and he made an enormous contribution to the success of the company. In time Tattersalls Ireland moved to Fairyhouse where it trades from today.

Acting in that initial period as sales advisor was Willie O’Rourke. The veterinary surgeon and breeder from Hospital, Co Limerick was one of the most respected people in the Irish breeding industry, and then was chairman of the Irish Thoroughbred Broodmare Owners Association. Some years later Willie took on the role of chief executive following Michael Opperman’s return to England.

The auctioneer’s panel back in 1975 comprised four men; Denis Mahony, David Pim, Philip Purcell and Des Hunt. The first three all gave sterling service over many years to the company, and their roles often extended beyond that of just selling.

Denis Mahony went on to become chairman of Tattersalls Ireland when the Newmarket company purchased Ballsbridge Sales. Both David Pim and Philip Purcell had experience of selling horses at public auction, doing so with Bord na gCapall, while Des Hunt was an auctioneer with his family’s Cashel Livestock Marts. David Pim also ran the family’s Anngrove Stud.

The contributions of Willie O’Rourke, David Pim and Michael Hillman to the development of Ballsbridge Sales, and later Tattersalls Ireland, were immense and further enhanced by the efforts of their respective wives, Fanny, Jean and Madeleine.

The Bloodstock Breeders’ Annual Review 1975 wrote of that first year: “There was a completely new situation in the Irish bloodstock market in 1975, with two sales companies competing against each other. Goffs Bloodstock Sales had their brand-new sales complex at Kill ready in time for their Premier September Yearling Sale and have now moved entirely out of Dublin, where their new rivals, Ballsbridge International Bloodstock Sales Ltd, have commenced auctioneering just across the road from Goffs’ old site.

“The results achieved in 1975 suggest that there may be enough trade in bloodstock in Ireland to keep both organisations happy.

“Ballsbridge International Bloodstock Sales Ltd, the new sales organisation in Ireland, commenced operations during the summer at a smart new sales centre, specially built in part of the Royal Dublin Society’s Showgrounds in the Dublin suburb of Ballsbridge. By the end of the year the new company had conducted six sales and had sold 792 lots for an aggregate of 738,203gns, producing the creditable average of 932gns.”