The four wise men who keep everything running smoothly

1 The successful staging of meetings at Ireland’s 26 racecourses is the responsibility of four men – the Turf Club’s clerks of courses, a quartet whose job is to run the show efficiently.

2 To anyone with only a casual interest in racing, the term 'clerk of the course' must have an antiquated ring to it. Their duties are varied. They have responsibility for the staging of fixtures – the non-commercial side that is – and for all things associated with the individual tracks in the days and weeks prior to a meeting. On raceday, with the exception of what happens during a race which is dealt with by the acting stewards, they are responsible for everything involved in keeping things running smoothly. Put simply, the buck stops with them.

3 Riding experience is not a prerequisite for the job – some of the present clerks' predecessors never even sat on a horse. It just so happens that the four men who currently hold the position rode successfully for many years, and the experience gained during their careers in the saddle is seen as an asset for many aspects of the job they now hold.