FIFTY years ago, The Irish Field was published on Saturday, March 21st – just as it is this year. Page 11 was concerned with an article by ‘C. Mc A’ about Cheltenham, while the page also featured no fewer than six advertisements for stallions.

The sires advertised were the Queen Anne Stakes winner Lucky Guy at Bourke’s Cadamstown Stud (fee 98gns), Dalesa at Delany’s Corballis Stud in Laytown (fee £35 and £1 for the groom), the English Cesarewitch winner Orchardist at Henley’s Bridge Stud in Tallow (80gns), the impeccably-bred Bally Joy at Ennis’s Park Stud in Kinnegad (£98 and 2gns for the groom), eight-time winner Mick McQuaid at Power’s Thornville Stud in Ballycogley, Wexford (49gns) and The Ark, winner of seven races, at Fitzgerald’s Kilmaloo Stud near Youghal (48gns).