1961

THE libel action arising out of the withdrawal by the Stewards of the Irish Turf Club of Vincent O’Brien’s licence to train, as the result of the alleged doping of Chamour in the Ballysax Maiden Plate at the Curragh in April, 1960, was settled honourably in the High Court, Dublin, on Wednesday.

The Stewards, in a statement read in court, apologised and expressed their regret to Mr O’Brien and made it clear that there is no evidence to suggest that he was either personally responsible for, or was in any way an accessory to, the drugging of Chamour. Mr O’Brien accepted the statement as amends, and agreed to forego any claims for damages.

In their statement, the Stewards claimed that they published the words complained of in the discharge of their duties as Stewards of the Irish Turf Club bona fide and without malice, but acknowledged that part of their decision as published in the Racing Calendar meant that they had found Mr O’Brien was personally responsible for, or was an accessory to, the drugging of Chamour.

They now disclaimed having had any intention of imputing to Mr O’Brien any such responsibility, and unreservedly withdrew any imputation of that kind. They recognised that Mr O’Brien’s object in bringing the actions was to clear his reputation of such imputations.

Mr O’Brien stated that it was not his intention at any time to challenge the authority of the Stewards, or to question their bona fides. He recognised that there was scientific evidence given at the inquiry on May 13th, 1960, upon which the Stewards would have been entitled to hold that a drug had been administered to the horse, and that he would have been entitled, if they thought fit in the exercise of their discretion under the rules of racing to impose penalties on him, which they did.

He maintained that the horse was not drugged and that he had furnished to the Stewards scientific opinions and reports, which were not available at the inquiry, to support this.

Dandy Man is the King of Beers

2006

JUST 12 days on from his excellent fourth place finish at Royal Ascot, Dandy Man laid down another marker for top sprinting honours in Europe this year with a high-quality display in the King of Beers Stakes.

His marvellous performance from a very disadvantageous draw at Ascot left the impression that Dandy Man could well have been the best horse in that race, which he only served to underline with his victory here. Lining up against the last two winners of the five-furlong listed contest in Benbaun and Osterhase, the Con Collins-trained colt faced no easy task, but went off at 5/4.

Conspicuous ease

In customary style, Osterhase cut out the running and, from the outset, Dandy Man travelled with conspicuous ease in his slipstream. Pat Shanahan eventually sent the Mozart colt to the front at the furlong pole, and Dandy Man readily asserted to score by a length.

“That’s a relief,” reflected the trainer’s daughter Tracey Collins. “It’s not often that we run a horse back that quick, but he told me that he wanted to run and has a marvellous constitution. He will have a break and come back for the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.”

There looks to be every chance that he will emulate his sire by winning that five-furlong Group 1.

[Dandy Man went on to race until the age of six, adding wins in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes and the Listed Woodlands Stakes. He was multiple Group 1-placed. Now standing at Ballyhane Stud, Dandy Man is the sire of three Group/Grade 1 winners, River Boyne, Peniaphobia and La Pelosa]

2006

THE Swiss watch company Longines is to sponsor the Grand Prix at the Dublin Horse Show for the next three years in a deal worth €600,000. They will replace Samsung who sponsored the class in 2005, and who have committed to the Aga Khan Nations Cup again for the next three years.

The latest cash boost brings the total prize fund for this year’s show to a staggering €730,000, which is an increase of €130,000 over last year. This makes it one of the richest shows in Europe.

According to show director, Gerry McAuliffe, there will also be other changes as a result of Longines’ involvement, including the addition of a large video screen in the main arena, which will be fed live coverage from RTÉ. Other exciting improvements are due to be announced over the next few weeks.

Longines’ involvement in the Dublin Horse Show brings to seven the number of top level equestrian events which it sponsors worldwide. Dublin has now been added to the other Super League shows at La Baule, Rome, Lucerne, Rotterdam, Hickstead and Barcelona, where the final takes place in September.

1981

THE Irish breeding industry received its biggest single boost ever, with the news yesterday that the Aga Khan has decided to stand Shergar at his Ballymany Stud on the Curragh.

Although there had been considerable pressure to sell to America, he is syndicating him at £250,000 per share, valuing the dual Derby winner at £10 million. He is offering 34 shares on the market and retaining six for himself.

He described the move as a “substantial financial sacrifice to me”, and this backs up the rumour that American breeders were offering $32 million. Their remaining hope is that there will not be enough buyers in Europe, which would force the Aga Khan to let the horse go to Kentucky.

This means that Shergar will stand at around £80,000 per nomination, and his yearlings will have to fetch six figures before breeders begin seeing any return on their investment.

1956

THE wearing of skull caps by all jockeys and riders under the rules of racing will be compulsory after September 10th. This decision of the stewards of the Jockey Club was announced by Lord Willoughby de Broke, the senior steward, at Wednesday’s meeting of the Jockey Club at Newmarket, and was unanimously endorsed by the members.

1931

IT was an interesting experiment, and quite a happy one it proved to be, this idea of the Phoenix Park Club to hold their July meeting on a Wednesday instead of the customary Saturday.

First of all, Saturdays are now over-burdened with all classes of sports fixtures, a competition from which Wednesdays are exempt. Therefore, a Wednesday with the first race timed for a comparatively late hour in the afternoon (as you know, it was for 4.30pm), had almost all the advantages of a weekend fixture.

It was an old story now that the meeting was a success. There was a splendid crowd, both in the grandstand and the cheaper enclosures.

2011

THE gavel came down for Lot 12 last Tuesday night at Christie’s in London, which set an auction record for a masterpiece by George Stubbs, with the painting becoming the third most valuable old master painting ever sold.

Gimcrack on Newmarket Heath, with a Trainer, a Stable-Lad, and a Jockey was sold by the Woolavington Collection, a private collection of sporting art formed by Lord Woolavington, a whiskey magnate, philanthropist and successful racehorse owner, for £22,441,250. The painting was bought by the seller in 1951 for £12,600.

Stubbs (1724-1806) was commissioned to paint it by the owner of Gimcrack, Frederick St John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke, in 1765. Gimcrack, only 14.2 hands, won 27 of the 36 races he contested, and the painting shows him winning a trial on Newmarket Heath in the background, and again being rubbed down in the foreground.

He was sired by Cripple, a son of the Godolphin Arabian, and is commemorated by the Gimcrack Stakes at York.

1956

THE wearing of skull caps by all jockeys and riders under the rules of racing will be compulsory after September 10th. This decision of the stewards of the Jockey Club was announced by Lord Willoughby de Broke, the senior steward, at Wednesday’s meeting of the Jockey Club at Newmarket, and was unanimously endorsed by the members.