THE most unusual aspect of the inaugural harness meeting at Vicarstown was a treble for horses trained in the midland counties. Kevin Carey based at Rathdowney in Laois, trained his own Said To Be Sweet and Imperial Attitude for Cork owner Tom Kiely. Ronan Norton from Killashee in Co Longford trained and drove his Fair Play Briolais to win the highest-grade trot on the card.

Carey, a farrier by trade, is a grandson of Joe Haide, a well-known competitor on the circuit who hailed from the south side of Dublin. Joe moved to Wolf Hill, Co Laois, in his retirement years, which explains the Laois connection.