2008

A HUGE attendance enjoyed brilliant sunshine on Tuesday for the visit of President Mary McAleese and her husband Dr Martin McAleese to the Irish Equine Centre in Johnstown. President McAleese later attended racing at Punchestown.

The Centre celebrates 25 years in existence this year, and the Board of Governors chose to recognise a number of people who made substantial or noteworthy contributions to its foundation. The first recipients of these awards were Sean and Hanne Collins, Vincent and Jacqueline O’Brien, Walter Haefner, Isolin Clague and the Maktoum brothers.

The President was welcomed to the Equine Centre by the newly appointed chairman John Malone, and he paid tribute to the work of many who have developed the Centre to its current preeminent position.

He especially noted the contribution of his immediate predecessor Ray MacSharry and said: ‘‘Today’s event has been a major milestone for the Irish Equine Centre. We are delighted to be able to honour the extraordinary people that have played a central role in the Irish equine industry and to celebrate the past 25 years of the Irish Equine Centre, as without them, this vision would never have become a reality.’’

Tribute

President McAleese paid tribute to the work of the many that had the foresight to build this centre of excellence and spoke of the next generation taking up the baton and ensuring the continuity of the good work done. She then presented the awards before spending time talking to guests.

Sean Collins, president of the Irish Equine Centre and a founding member, thanked President McAleese on behalf of the guests. He spoke of the need for continuing support for the Centre, urging many to give something rather than just relying on major donations. He mentioned a number of people who were unsung heroes at the time of the establishment of the Centre, including Sean Berry, Jonathan Irwin, and the late Joe Reid.

Lady Clague and Sean and Hanne Collins were present to receive their awards. Jane Myerscough received the awards for her parents, Vincent and Jacqueline O’Brien, Walter Haefner’s daughter Eva Maria accepted on his behalf, while the Maktoum family was represented by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al Maktoum. Afterwards, Sheikh Ahmed spoke of the great honour this was for his family, and he also toured the virology unit which the family had funded.

Guests were welcomed by Niall Quinn, and Leo Powell read the citations for the recipients. He described Sean Collins as ‘‘a man ahead of his time’’, while Hanne Collins was a major support to Sean and a very successful fundraiser in her own right. Jacqueline O’Brien was noted as a ‘‘practical, intelligent, informed, and decisive’’ lady, while her husband Vincent played a major role in many different ways.

Wishing the Centre well from Australia, Jacqueline O’Brien said: ‘‘Looking back over all my years associated with horses, my contribution to the Equine Centre, however small, was the best thing I did.’’

Revolutionised

Lady Clague’s donation of a computerised laboratory information system revolutionised the work of the Centre, while Walter Haefner, thanks to the prompting of Stan Cosgrove, gave £100,000 in early 1985, enabling the completion of the building works. The late Michael Osborne’s belief in the Centre resulted in a massive donation of £350,000 from the Maktoum family, allowing for the commissioning and equipping of the virology unit.

Among the guests were Jim and Jackie Bolger, Denis Brosnan, Brian and Diana Kavanagh, Johnny Weatherby, Brough Scott, Eimear Mulhern, Pat O’Kelly, Dermot and Perle O’Rourke, John and Caitriona Oxx, Dermot Weld, Joe and Marie Walsh, and Noel Meade. Members of the Oireachtas present included Sean Power, Lucinda Creighton, Sean Bradford, and Bernard Durkan.

Remembering and celebrating Storm Cat

2013

STORM Cat, one of the most influential stallions of the last quarter century, was put down on Wednesday at Overbrook Farm in Lexington due to old age. The son of Storm Bird, whose brief but accomplished racing career was often overlooked during his reign as America’s premier commercial sire, was 30 years old.

Produced from Royal Academy’s stakes-winning sister Terlingua, Storm Cat won the 1985 Young America Stakes in a thrilling finish from Danzig Connection and Mogambo. He was denied a championship clinching triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile when pipped by the late-charging Tasso.

Due to knee troubles, Storm Cat’s career was limited to eight starts for Jonathan Sheppard. His new career at Overbrook began with seasons awarded on rather generous terms to help the young stallion make it in a then-declining commercial market. In the years to follow his progeny not only began performing well at the track, but commanded top dollar in the sales ring.

A total of 92 Storm Cat yearlings sold for $1 million or more at auction. By comparison, his legendary grandsire Northern Dancer had 52 yearlings reach the seven-figure mark. Storm Cat is also responsible for seven of the 10 all-time highest priced colts at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and the top-selling filly.

His sire line continues most prominently through Giant’s Causeway, his six-time Group 1-winning son for Aidan O’Brien, and leading sire. Forestry, Harlan, Hennessy, and Tale Of The Cat have sired major American performers. His European progeny include Aljabr, Black Minnaloushe, Denebola, Nebraska Tornado, One Cool Cat and Sophisticat.

Legendary auctioneer Harry Beeby retires

2013

THIS week’s sale-topper [Lawman filly who sold for £210,000] also represented a small piece of history, as she was sold by Harry Beeby. After the sale he stood down from the rostrum after 49 years wielding the gavel.

His son Henry said: “The end of an era is probably one of those over-used phrases in the modern world, but it really is most appropriate today following the final outing on the rostrum for our chairman. Harry has been the epitome of style, integrity and enthusiasm, and the auctioneer to whom we all aspired.

“It was he, along with the late Sir Peter Nugent and David Nagle, who revolutionised the art of bloodstock auctioneering in Europe by injecting some real speed and theatre to the role, and he has worked to the highest standards at each and every DBS sale.

“It was very fitting that he was the auctioneer in charge of the day’s highest price, and there is no one who would have teased more out of the lot.

Happily, Harry will continue to be a constant presence at every DBS sale for the foreseeable future and looks forward to meeting all our clients on an on-going basis, as retirement is definitely not on the agenda.”