FROM THE ARCHIVES:Legendary trainer Vincent O'Brien had his licence revoked by the Turf Club in 1960 after one of his horses, Chamour, tested positive for drugs at a maiden race at the Curragh. Chamour went on to win the Irish Derby some months afterwards, while O'Brien was exonerated of the doping accusation a year later. Meanwhile, a racing correspondent using the pseudonym Octavius explained how O'Brien's Ballydoyle stables overcame their vicissitudes. – JOE JOYCE
THE RUN of appalling bad luck associated with the Ballydoyle stables, which began with the disqualification of Chamour at the Curragh and the withdrawal of Vincent O’Brien’s licence to train, reached an unhappy climax recently with the death of Chamour .
Prevented by Jockey Club rules from running in England, Chamour was deprived of the opportunity of challenging St Paddy as the leading colt in Europe, but when winning the Irish Derby he defeated Alcaeus just as easily as St Paddy had done in the Epsom equivalent.
His loss is a cruel blow to Ballydoyle. But that magnificent establishment has overcome so many adversities that this latest stroke of misfortune is unlikely to hamper its progress in the coming season, during which there will be close on 70 horses in training.
Vincent O’Brien’s patrons were fortunate that his brother, AS (Phonsie) was on hand to take over the string last May; and it says much for the latter’s ability, and that of a third brother, Dermot, as manager, that the horses under their charge won more prize money in Ireland than those of any other stable.
Their success, however, was above all a tribute to the zeal and genius of Vincent, who in his years at Ballydoyle has applied himself with typical thoroughness to the task of providing his owners with a training ground second to none in the world.
The result, as one might expect, is perfection. The gallops really beggar description.
Hedgerows have been bulldozed and ditches filled in so that where there were once many fields there is now a rich, extensive, rolling plain. Viewed from the stables in February, the most obvious feature is the dark strip of a specially-laid gallop stretching diagonally for close on five furlongs. Less obvious is the running rail, outlining the turf and peat moss gallops, which start away over to the right, run parallel to the five furlong straight, and then gradually swing to the left to finish uphill close to the stables themselves.
This stretch is 14 furlongs from start to finish and comprises several numbered gallops which when cut are divided by unmown grass strips. The morning work is thus greatly simplified, the instructions to the lads being reduced to the minimum: “Start at such-and-such a furlong and come up gallop number so-and-so.” But, of course, the main benefit derived from the system is the control it gives over wear and tear on the gallops.
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