THOUGH it was only a decade ago, a look back to the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association awards night in 2006 evokes many mixed feelings. Sadly, far too many of the award winners on that evening have left us, but their memories live forever.

The evening was held in late February that year near Naas and it was as popular then as it is now, with 360 guests in attendance. The chairman of the ITBA at the time did not have far to travel to the Killashee House Hotel, Dermot Cantillon being a nearby resident.