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Curragh Racecourse
The Curragh Racecourse is a flat racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland. The racecourse is home to Ireland’s five most important flat races, known as the Irish Classic Races, Classics. Racing takes place 23 days each year from the end of March until late October. Guided tours of the venue are available outside of race days. History The name "Curragh" comes from the Irish language word ''Cuirreach'', meaning "place of the running horse". The first recorded race on the plain took place in 1727, but it was used for races before then. The first Derby was held in 1866, and in 1868 the Curragh was officially declared a horse racing and training facility by act of parliament. Racecourse redevelopment Redevelopment of the Curragh grandstand and racecourse facilities began in 2017 with completion due in time for commencement of the 2019 Irish Flat season. A truncated racing fixture list continued to be held at the course during this period with temporary facilities in place for t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
County Kildare
County Kildare () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the Local government in the Republic of Ireland, local authority for the county, which had a population of 246,977 at the 2022 census. Geography and subdivisions Kildare is the 24th-largest of Ireland's 32 counties in area and the seventh-largest in terms of population. It is the eighth largest of Leinster's twelve counties in size, and the second largest in terms of population. It is bordered by the counties of County Carlow, Carlow, County Laois, Laois, County Meath, Meath, County Offaly, Offaly, South Dublin and County Wicklow, Wicklow. As an inland county, Kildare is generally a lowland region. The county's highest points are the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains bordering to the east. The highest point in Kildare is Cupidstown Hill on the border w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Shergar
Shergar (3 March 1978 – ) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After a very successful season in 1981 he was retired to the Ballymany Stud in County Kildare, Ireland. In 1983 he was stolen from the stud, and a ransom of £2 million was demanded; it was not paid, and negotiations were soon broken off by the thieves. In 1999 a supergrass, formerly in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), stated they stole the horse. The IRA has never admitted any role in the theft. The Aga Khan, Shergar's owner, sent the horse for training in Britain in 1979 and 1980. Shergar began his first season of racing in September 1980 and ran two races that year, where he won one and came second in the other. In 1981 he ran in six races, winning five of them. In June that year he won the 202nd Epsom Derby by ten lengths—the longest winning margin in the race's history. Three weeks later he won the Irish Sweeps Derby by four lengths; a month after that he won the K ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Greenlands Stakes
The Greenlands Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in May. The event is named after Greenlands, the area of the Curragh plain where the racecourse is located. It is held on the same afternoon as the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Prior to 2015 it was also open to three-year-olds and was contested at Group 3 level. Records Most successful horse since 1950 (2 wins): * College Chapel – ''1993, 1994'' * Hitchens - ''2011, 2013'' Leading jockey since 1950 (6 wins): * Lester Piggott – ''Home Guard (1973), Boone's Cabin (1975), Golden Thatch (1979), Archway (1991), College Chapel (1993, 1994)'' Leading trainer since 1950 (13 wins): * Vincent O'Brien – ''King's Jester (1958), Abergwaun (1972), Home Guard (1973), Saritamer (1974), Boone's Cabin (1975), Golden Thatch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Irish 2,000 Guineas
The Irish 2,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in May. History The event was established in 1921, a year before the launch of the Irish 1,000 Guineas. The inaugural running was won by Soldennis. It is Ireland's equivalent of the 2,000 Guineas, and in recent years it has taken place three weeks after that race. The field usually includes horses which previously contested the English version, and nine have achieved victory in both events. The first was Right Tack in 1969, and the most recent was Churchill in 2017. The leading horses from the Irish 2,000 Guineas often go on to compete in the following month's St. James's Palace Stakes. The most recent to win both races was Paddington in 2023. Records Leading jockey (5 wins): * Tommy Burns, Sr. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
