The first International Stewards' Meeting was held at Newmarket on July 14th, 1966 between the Racing Authorities of Great Britain, Ireland, United States and France.

After the meeting, the Stewards approved the hereafter Press release:

A meeting was held at Newmarket on Thursday, July 14th between members of the Societe d'Encouragement, the Irish Turf Club, the Jockey Club of New York and the Jockey Club of England.

The Conference, under the Chairmanship of Sir Randle Feilden, Senior Steward of the English Jockey Club, discussed a wide range of international problems.

The meeting endorsed the view of the Chairman that the absence of horses from Europe in the major English and Irish races as the result of Government restrictions had generally reduced the interest in these races and would have an adverse effect on the breeding industry in all the countries involved.

In view of the absolute necessity of ensuring the uninterrupted exchange of both racing and breeding horses, the conference decided to adopt an international standard of equine health regulations to be enforced at all placed under their control and to request trainers and stud owners to take similar action at their own establishments.

They also agreed to ask their respective Governments to enlarge the scope of these measures to cover the entire horse industry. The President of the Societe d'Encouragement expressed the view that the recent findings of the international Veterinary Conference at Streza could give useful guidance on this matter.

The conference made further progress towards arriving at a full reciprocal agreement with regards to the punishment imposed on jockeys.

The present regulations on multiple ownership of horses were considered and were found to be generally in accord. The conference did however feel there was room for some relaxation from the present rule in cases where horses were syndicated for stud purposes.

The French Stewards reported that the introduction of passports for horses had benefitted in all aspects of the racing industry and the conference agreed that they should be extended to England and Ireland.

After the conference, all those attending were the guests at a dinner given by the Stewards of the English Jockey Club at the Jockey Club Rooms at Newmarket.