JIM Bolger and Kevin Manning provided Val Joyce with some of his best racing memories when Rhythm’n Roots won the Listed El Gran Senor Stakes at Tipperary as a two-year-old, and later when he was a battling winner of the Group 3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.

It was somewhat appropriate that Val’s horse should win this particular group race as he started his working career as an accountant with the Irish Hospitals’ Sweepstakes. In the 1950s, with the then Radio Éireann, he began presenting sponsored programmes.

Val Joyce was, like Colm Murray, a godsend for Irish racing. During a distinguished broadcasting career of more than half a century, his Saturday afternoon radio programme, Airs and Races, combined two of his passions, the sport of horseracing and music.

With a most distinctive voice, Val was part of many people’s lives – he was a friend on radio to all of his listeners. In real life, he was just the same. His easy-going, laid-back manner was quite soporific, and proved to be ideal for another programme with which he became forever associated, Late Date. People of a certain age will also recall Sound Of Light, Pop Call and Ireland’s Choice.

Robert Hall was among many to pay tribute to Val this week. He said: “We owe him a huge debt of gratitude, and it is no coincidence that racing enjoyed a larger slice of the sporting public’s pie while Airs and Races was broadcast, at a time when televised racing was less frequent. For many, Val was the link.

“It is ironic that he bought his home in Booterstown from the Hall family and that I would later contribute, if briefly, to his programme as a stand in commentator!

Soothing voice

“I remember him showing me my old playroom, which he’d transformed into a magnificent vinyl library. He had such knowledge across music’s wide genre, and a magnificent appreciation of racing matters. His soothing voice on a Saturday afternoon was the perfect antidote to the stresses of the week.”

Many colleagues and friends of Val paid tribute to him following news of his death. Lillian Smith wrote: “RIP to my lovely former colleague Val Joyce. When I started on Late Date back in the day he was my opposite number. We had a lot of fun, and I learned a lot from him. May he rest in peace.”

Award-winning Lyric FM presenter Aedín Gormley added: “We have lost one of the RTÉ family, Val Joyce RIP. I loved him on Late Date, and in those earlier days when I was a continuity announcer, he was so lovely and a joy to talk to. Loved his music. End of an era. My sympathy to his family and friends.”

Nature’s gentleman

Jim Bolger reflected the views of most people in racing. He said: “Val was one of nature’s gentlemen, with a great knowledge of music and racing. It was no surprise that he had such a huge listenership on his radio show.

“He loved racing and was very appreciative of his Leopardstown win on his doorstep. He loved Leopardstown and they had a great coterie of friends, from all walks of life, with a common interest and had their own spot at the races. Whilst he had a huge admiration for champion horses, he very much appreciated that racing and breeding is a game of chance.

“Rhythm’n Roots was by Daggers Drawn out of Saana, by Erins Isle, and won three races at the Curragh, Leopardstown and Tipperary, and had a RPR of 103. Val was overjoyed to sell him but sad to see him leave Ireland.

“I wish to extend my sympathy to Val’s family on the great man’s death. May he rest in peace.”

Once a friend, always a friend, Val was forever a joy to meet. He leaves us all with unforgettable memories.

Sadly, and especially for someone who loved people, Val suffered with Alzheimer’s in his later years. He died peacefully last Saturday, surrounded by his family, at Ferndene Nursing home. He was a devoted and loving husband of Vera who died in 2016. Val is survived by his children Kenneth, Sally, Alan, Karen and Julie, their partners and his grandchildren. The family has requested that donations, if desired, be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland.