The Irish Derby ( Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

colts and fillies. It is run at the

Curragh The Curragh ( ; ga, An Currach ) is a flat open plain of almost of common land in County Kildare. This area is well known for Irish horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is located on the edge of Kildare town, beside th ...

over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July. It is Ireland's equivalent of the

Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, also known as the Epsom Derby or the Derby, and as the Cazoo Derby for sponsorship reasons, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surre ...

, and it is currently held three weeks after the English race.

History

The earliest version of the Irish Derby was an event called the O'Darby Stakes. This was established in 1817, but it was discontinued after 1824. A subsequent race titled the Curragh Derby was inaugurated in 1848, but this was again short-lived. The modern Irish Derby was created by the 3rd Earl of Howth, the 3rd Marquess of Drogheda and the 3rd Earl of Charlemont. It was first run in 1866, and it was initially contested over 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 3 yards. It was extended by 9 yards in 1869, and cut to its present distance in 1872. The first Epsom Derby winner to achieve victory in the Irish version was Orby, trained in Ireland by Fred McCabe, in 1907. The Irish Derby became a major international race in 1962, when its prize money was substantially increased. Joe McGrath, a founder of the Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake, combined the race with the sweepstake, and it became known as the Irish Sweeps Derby. The event began to regularly attract the winners of the Epsom Derby, and

Santa Claus Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnigh ...

became the second horse to win both races in 1964. The Irish Derby was sponsored by Budweiser from 1986 to 2007, and it has been backed by Dubai Duty Free since 2008. It is currently staged on the second day of the Curragh's three-day Irish Derby Festival meeting. A total of eighteen horses have now completed the English-Irish Derby double, and the most recent was Harzand in 2016.

Records

Leading

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

(6 wins): * Morny Wing – ''Ballyheron (1921), Waygood (1923), Rock Star (1930), Rosewell (1938), Windsor Slipper (1942), Bright News (1946)'' Leading trainer (14 wins): * Aidan O'Brien – ''Desert King (1997), Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Dylan Thomas (2006), Soldier of Fortune (2007), Frozen Fire (2008), Fame and Glory (2009), Cape Blanco (2010), Treasure Beach (2011), Camelot (2012), Australia (2014), Capri (2017), Sovereign (2019), Santiago (2020)'' Leading owner (15 wins): ''(includes part ownership)'' * Michael Tabor – ''Desert King (1997), Montjeu (1999), Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Hurricane Run (2005), Dylan Thomas (2006), Soldier of Fortune (2007), Frozen Fire (2008), Fame and Glory (2009), Cape Blanco (2010), Treasure Beach (2011), Australia (2014), Capri (2017), Sovereign (2019), Santiago (2020)'' A Unique Racing Record - Only Owner to complete the Derby and Grand National Double * William Brophy, Herbertstown House, Two-Mile-House, Naas, Co. Kildare. Farmer, Breeder and Owner In 1880 William Brophy completed a unique double by owning the winner of both the Irish Derby with King of the Bees and the Irish Grand National with Controller. Also uniquely both winners were out of the same Dam Winged Bee.

Winners since 1946

Premonition finished first in 1953 but was disqualified.

Earlier winners

* 1866: Selim * 1867: Golden Plover * 1868: Madeira * 1869: The Scout * 1870: Billy Pitt * 1871: Maid of Athens * 1872: Trickstress * 1873: Kyrle Daly * 1874: Ben Battle * 1875: Innishowen * 1876: Umpire * 1877: Redskin * 1878: Madame du Barry * 1879: Soulouque * 1880: King of the Bees * 1881: Master Ned * 1882: Sortie * 1883: Sylph * 1884: Theologian * 1885: St Kevin * 1886: Theodemir * 1887: Pet Fox * 1888: Theodolite * 1889: Tragedy * 1890: Kentish Fire * 1891: Narraghmore * 1892: Roy Neil * 1893: Bowline * 1894: Blairfinde * 1895: Portmarnock * 1896: Gulsalberk * 1897: Wales * 1898: Noble Howard * 1899: Oppressor * 1900: Gallinaria * 1901: Carrigavalla * 1902: St Brendan * 1903: Lord Rossmore * 1904: Royal Arch * 1905: Flax Park * 1906: Killeagh * 1907: Orby * 1908: Wild Bouquet * 1909:

Bachelor's Double Bachelor's Double (22 April 1906 – 3 February 1931) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse that raced in Ireland and Britain and was a successful sire in the early 20th century. He won the Irish Derby as a three-year-old and also won the C ...

* 1910: Aviator * 1911: Shanballymore * 1912: Civility * 1913: Bachelor's Wedding * 1914: Land of Song * 1915: Ballaghtobin * 1916: Furore * 1917: First Flier * 1918: King John * 1919: Loch Lomond * 1920: He Goes * 1921: Ballyheron * 1922: Spike Island * 1923: Waygood * 1924: Haine / Zodiac ¹ * 1925: Zionist * 1926: Embargo * 1927: Knight of the Grail * 1928: Baytown * 1929: Kopi * 1930: Rock Star * 1931: Sea Serpent * 1932: Dastur * 1933: Harinero * 1934: Patriot King / Primero * 1935: Museum * 1936: Raeburn * 1937: Phideas * 1938: Rosewell * 1939: Mondragon * 1940:

Turkhan Turkhan (1937 – after 1952) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, who raced during World War II and was best known for winning the classic St Leger in 1940. He showed good form as a two-year-old, winning the Coventry Stakes at ...

* 1941: Sol Oriens * 1942: Windsor Slipper * 1943: The Phoenix * 1944: Slide On * 1945: Piccadilly

References

* Paris-Turf: **, , , , , , , , *

Racing Post ''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting publisher which is published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of ...

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galopp-sieger.de
– ''Irish Derby Stakes.''
horseracingintfed.com
– ''International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Irish Derby (2018).''

– ''Irish Derby (Group 1).''
pedigreequery.com
– ''Irish Derby – Curragh.''

– ''Irish Derby Stakes.'' * * The Sweeney guide to the Irish turf from 1501 to 2001 /by Tony & Annie Sweeney in association with Francis Hyland ; photographs by Caroline Norris ... t al. {{Triple Crown of Horse Racing Annual sporting events in Ireland Flat races in Ireland Curragh Racecourse Flat horse races for three-year-olds Recurring sporting events established in 1866 1866 establishments in Ireland Summer events in the Republic of Ireland

History

Records

Winners since 1946

Earlier winners

See also

References