Valentine Lamb (1939-2015)

Track 1: Growing up in Somerset, England. Memories of his mother, whose father was Lord Longford of Pakenham Hall, Co. Meath. His early visits to his mother’s home. Track 2: Joining the staff of the Financial Times in London in 1961 and, four years later, the Irish Times in Dublin. Track 3: In 1970, became editor of the Irish Field. Exciting times in Irish racing – anecdotes of Goffs’ move to Kill; the McGrath brothers; the Anglo-Irish ascendancy who were dominant in Irish racing. Track 4: The success of the Coolmore Stud and why it flourishes. Recalling his early days as a journalist and also the editorials he wrote for the Irish Field. Track 5: The great stories of the time included the attempted takeover of Punchestown Racecourse and the closure of the Phoenix Park Racecourse. His views on televised races. Track 6: Memories of the editor of the Irish Times, Major McDowell and the other journalists who covered racing at that time. Returning to the subject of Goffs and the National Stud.