I HAVE written before this year about the fact that 1966 saw the first trainers’ licence issued to a lady, this being Anne Biddle who quickly opened her account with a winner at her local track in Naas. While widespread use of starting stalls was still some way off, they were experimented with successfully at the Curragh. Another first came at Gowran Park in January 1966 when the Tote jackpot was introduced.

Just four yearlings sold by Irish studs brought five-figure sums in 1966. Way ahead of the rest was Airlie Stud’s son of Chalottesville and Rosmerta and he sold to Tim Vigors for 31,000gns at Newmarket. This was a new record for a yearling sold at public auction in either Ireland or Britain.