Border war: The presence of a border on the island has always had some consequence for racing. A row between Britain and the Irish Free State over the repayment of land annuities to Britain resulted in Britain imposing import duty of 20% on all Irish agricultural produce into the United Kingdom, including horses. Here is The Irish Field of Saturday, July 16th July 1932:

“It is hard to say where we stand just now as a result of recent legislation in both Great Britain and the Free State. An economic war commenced yesterday and nobody knows how and when it will end.

“The Down Royal races at the Maze opened yesterday and will be continued today. The Maze is in that portion of the country officially known as Northern Ireland.

“The greater portion of the support of the different events at the meeting, however, comes from the rest of Ireland, from the Free State, to be exact. What’s going to happen, therefore, if an import duty, following the terms of the Act passed the other day by the Parliament at Westminster, is put upon racehorses attending Down Royal Races?

“Because of the import duty coming into operation yesterday, owners who had horses from the Free State running at the meeting were advised to send them by a special train which was leaving the Curragh on Thursday morning.

“By doing this they would ensure the arrival of their horses in Ulster before the Act operated - that is, if it will operate in Northern Ireland. There is always the risk, however, that it might be enforced, and hence a horse sent yesterday or today might, or might not, be impounded at the border.”

Olympic news: There was good news for Ireland later that summer in the shape of Olympic glory at Los Angeles, in this extract from The Irish Field of Saturday, August 5th 1932. Mentioned is General Eoin O’Duffy, who was at the same time, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland, and also Garda Commissioner. And of course, the first Olympic gold medallists representing Ireland, Pat O’Callaghan and Bob Tisdall.

“On receiving a cable on Monday from General O’Duffy, informing him of R.M.N. Tisdall’s and Dr. P. O’Callaghan’s victories at the Olympic Games at Los Angeles, Senator O’Hanlon sent the following reply to General O’Duffy at Los Angeles: -

“Every Irishman thrilled at magnificent victories. Congratulations to O’Callaghan and Tisdall. Expect fitting reception on return.’’

“The Olympic team is expected to return to Dublin on August 27th and plans for a great reception are already on foot. Senator O’Hanlon informs us that a representative committee has been formed and that subscriptions have been coming in by every post.

“Doctor O’Callaghan, in winning the hammer event on Monday, improved by more than 8 feet on his throw at Amsterdam of 168 feet 7½ inches.”

George V dies: The Irish Field was in mourning for the edition of Saturday, January 25th 1936, following the death of King George V, the official head of state of the Irish Free State at the time.

“The world of sport has been in mourning and will be like that until after Tuesday next, the day fixed for the funeral obsequies of His Late Majesty King George V.

“Let us pay our tribute here to the memory of a great man, as well as a great and wise king, a monarch who stood out amongst his contemporaries as the beau ideal of what a sportsman should be, a king who played the game as it should be played throughout his life.

“On occasions like this sport, and all that sport stands for, seems out of place. Racing - even if it was possible - has been wiped out until after the funeral. So has hunting.

“He loved Ireland, and Irishmen loved him; so great indeed, was his love for Irishmen that at one period of the strained relationships between Great Britain and Ireland, when the lives of a number of young men were in peril, he urged upon his Prime Minister that almost at any cost they should not suffer the extreme rigour of the law. His plea prevailed.

“It was a pity that he never possessed racehorses of the class his father before him owned. His success on the Turf was moderate. Friar Marcus, bred by himself, was about the best of his horses. He won the 1000 Guineas with Scuttle, the Royal Hunt Cup with Weathervane, and the Newbury Cup with Limelight.

“Only those who have lived abroad can picture properly what an asset towards the permanence and high state of the Throne of the British Empire possesses in the personality of King Edward VIII, a sportsman in the best sense of the word to his finger-tips. Long may he reign!”

Sunday sobriety: Sobriety was to be maintained in Portrush, according to this item in The Irish Field of Saturday, August 15th 1936:

“Following a survey of the progress and extension of the Royal Portrush Golf Club during his four years as captain, the Right Hon. A.B. Babington, K.C., M.P., announced at the annual general meeting that he had authoritative assurance that when some slight improvements still required were completed, they would have a fine chance of having the British Open Championship played on one of their courses. (Applause.)

“A motion to permit the consumption of drink on Sundays met with strong objection. A suggestion that this question should be considered in committee was put to a vote and defeated, the Rev. J.S. Pyper, Portrush, remarking that they should be ashamed of themselves in entertaining such a view.

“After a long discussion a vote taken on the motion to permit Sunday consumption was defeated by 143 votes to 50.”

The problem with owners: Before becoming a trainer, make sure and read this piece from The Irish Field of Saturday, January 21st 1961:

“Do women owners change their trainers more frequently than men? Noting that a certain horse in England had changed his stable twice since the beginning of the season and that he was owned by a lady, I sought the views of some Irish trainers on this subject.

“The first: “Almost every year I make a resolution to cut out women patrons. They interfere, they ring up every second day with suggestions for entries in most unsuitable races. They have fairytale ideas about their horse and if the fairytales doesn’t come true they blame the trainer and not the horse.

“They think horses are machines and if they don’t win races all the time they take them away and try them with someone else. I am not saying that all women owners are as bad as this. Men can be temperamental too, but taking all things into consideration I would rather train for them any day.’’

“The next trainer held the opposite view: “Women owners are much less suspicious that men,’’ he said. “I must say that the women who have horses with me seldom question my decision about anything. They are good sports too, although some call for tactful handling when they come to a race all dolled up in their best clothes ready to lead in a winner and the winner doesn’t materialise.

“Also, I find it hard to tell a woman straight out that her horse is no good. They have great faith in their animals and are always hoping that they will improve. Sometimes they are over-apt to make pets of their horses. I have seen horses play up and try all kinds of little tricks as soon as their owner appeared to watch them at work – you wouldn’t believe it.”

“The third trainer was cryptic: “Take it from me, all patrons, men and women, are not only hard but impossible to satisfy. A trainer must have a tough hide, the patience of Job, the diplomacy of a Prime Minister, and even then some people would like him to be a magician into the bargain.”

Irish at Cheltenham: The Irish Field of Saturday, March 16th 1985 provides reminders that the Irish did not always dominate the Cheltenham Festival:

“Drama of the worst kind is the only way to sum-up the first day of the Festival meeting. Disaster following disaster.

“The only bright spot was the marvellous victory of Boreen Prince in the Arkle Chase from previous course winner Buck House.

“Niall Madden, riding as well as ever, was biding his time, and challenging up the hill quickly assumed authority to win by two lengths.

“The 1985 Champion Hurdle will quickly want to be forgotten by most, unless you were a supporter of the ex-Con Collins trained See You Then, now with the Nick Henderson stable. This yard can do little wrong, whoever the jockey.

“The five-year-old was to be ridden by John Francome, but he had a horrible fall when The Reject came a cropper in the Arkle dragging him for a considerable distance. Steve Smith-Eccles deputised and was more than an adequate replacement.

“Wednesday was another day of bad results for the Irish although the banker, Antarctic Bay, landed the Sun Alliance Chase. He was far from impressive, but he has guts, and although he made a terrible mistake at the second last, he still ran on to victory.

“The biggest disappointment of the day was Bobsline in the Two Mile Champion Chase. He was never going well and hit several fences. But he improved his position coming down the hill and looked to have every chance when he fell at the third last.

“However, one should not take away from the victory of Badsworth Boy, who is the first horse to win this race three times on the trot.”

Dancing Brave: One of the great performances from one of the great horses - an extract from The Irish Field of Saturday, October 11th 1986:

“Dancing Brave proved himself the best middle-distance horse in Europe and probably the world with his superb winning performance in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last Sunday.

“On what was unusually fast ground at Longchamp, Guy Harwood’s colt destroyed the opposition with a pulverising run over the last 300 yards, and lopped point three of a second off Detroit’s course record in the process.

“The French crowd began to roar Bering home and it was apparent to all that he had the beating of everything in front of him. Just as Gallic voices rose to fever pitch, a new cry went up from the English. Pat Eddery was making his move on Dancing Brave and the pair of them were flying.

“Dancing Brave was cutting down his rivals with every stride and he got to Bering about 100 yards from the winning post.

“The French champion did not give up. In a normal year he would have been acclaimed a worthy winner, but Dancing Brave is no ordinary horse, and he was easily too good in what was the best Arc held for years.

“It was revealed on Tuesday that Bering had fractured a shin bone and had finished the race on three legs.

“The scribes were fishing for superlatives about Dancing Brave’s performance and it was generally agreed that he was the best winner since Mill Reef in 1971.

“I would say that in terms of Arc performances his was the most impressive, taking into account the strength of the opposition, since the mighty Sea Bird murdered Reliance and others 21 years ago.”