SO many people have paid tribute to the wonderful career of John Oxx (pages 10-11) and another to add her voice is Caroline Corballis of the IHRB: “Truly the end of an era. My family had a long, successful and most agreeable association with John Oxx and before that with his father.

“John trained a large number of homebred winning fillies for my great-aunt, Betty Laidlaw (Safe Home, Muffitys, Inanna, etc). He also trained for my father, Tom Laidlaw, among these was a fun horse,Uncle Pokey.

“I have very fond memories of regular visits to Currabeg, going back to my childhood and of his mother, Maisie’s afternoon teas with chocolate biscuits, memories of foggy early mornings on the gallops and of frequent yard visits.

“The latter were made all the more enjoyable by John’s right hand man, Pascal, and by other members of his loyal staff, who would sometimes show us the star horses in the yard – all long before the days of Sea The Stars.

“I wish John all the best for a happy and fulfilling retirement.”