THE Scarteen Foxhounds race tomorrow at Kilfeacle (12.30pm start) but, on Sunday, February 5th, 1978 their meeting took place at Knocklong where P.P. Hogan sent out Under Way and Any Crack to record a first and last race open double under John Fowler.
Ten years later, more or less, and still at Knocklong, Norman Williamson landed the opening novice riders’ race on Hogan’s Give Me A Break while the following mares’ open went to Maid Of Duhallow whose rider, Tom Costello, was runner-up to John Berry in that season’s Irish Field championship (31 wins to 34).
With four divisions to the six-year-old and upwards maiden and three to the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, there were 11 races at Tipperary racecourse where the Scarteens held their 1998 fixture. Three races went the way of short-priced favourites partnered by the season’s champion rider J.T. McNamara.
The hunt had moved to Kilfeacle when its 2008 meeting took place on Sunday, January 20th. Then again, McNamara was the rider to follow with four wins to his credit but he failed to record a five-timer when favourite Lady In The Mist was beaten into second in the concluding five, six and seven-year-old mares’ maiden by the Corky Carroll-partnered Sordid Secret.
Nicky Dee and David Kiely both recorded doubles at the Dungarvan Harriers’ fixture at Kilossera on Sunday, February 5th, 1978 and Dee was also among the winners on Sunday, January 24th, 1988 but this time he had to settle for just the one victory while Pat Healy landed a brace.
There were nine races up for decision at Kilossera on Sunday, January 25th, 1998 but only William O’Sullivan scored more than once.
He landed division one of the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden on Barryscourt Castle and the open on the 1996 Midlands Grand National winner Another Excuse.
There was a similar number of races at Dungarvan on Sunday, January 27th, 2008 when Mikey O’Connor rode a double on Egermyster (five-year-old mares’ maiden) and Tara Lee (confined maiden).