Sir, - It was 50 years ago that Dermot Weld served notice he was going to be a trainer of rare ability when he was champion trainer in his first season at the age of only 24.

He has trained a large numbers of winners at home in every season since. But it is his groundbreaking successes across the globe that mark him apart.

He started with a string of 50 mainly flat horses and a handful of jumpers, and he was determined to make an immediate impact.

On New Year’s Day 1972, his first day with a licence, there was racing at Baldoyle, he won a race with Spanner and then rode a winner on Chevy Chase in the bumper. It was a fantastic start to his training career.

Today [Saturday] marks the 50th anniversary of his first success on the flat. It came at the opening meeting at the Phoenix Park.

He got off to a flying start with Dark Blue in the Arklow Maiden and then took the featured Athboy Stakes over a mile with Master Albert.

In the intervening half-century Weld has trained in excess of 4,250 winners - an unbelievable number for a trainer based in Ireland.

His many classic and blacktype successes across the world have been well documentated and appreciated.

Dermot Weld Is one of Ireland’s greatest sporting ambassadors. His family and employees should take a well deserved bow. - Yours etc.,

NICK O’TOOLE

Naas,

Co Kildare