The Irish 2,000 Guineas is a

Group 1 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (motorsport), a regulation set of the FIA for series-production touring cars used in motorsport. * Group One Thoroughbred horse races, the leading e ...

flat

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

in Ireland open to three-year-old

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

colts and

fillies A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, th ...

. It is run at the

Curragh The Curragh ( ; ) is a flat open plain in County Kildare, Ireland. This area is well known for horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is on the edge of Kildare town, beside the Japanese Gardens. Pollardstown Fen, the larges ...

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 Irish 1,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is sched ...

. The inaugural running was won by Soldennis. It is Ireland's equivalent of the

2,000 Guineas The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1.6 km) and scheduled to take place each yea ...

, 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 Right Tack (1966–1985) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from June 1968 to October 1969, he ran twelve times, winning eight races and finishing second three times. As a two-year-o ...

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 A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), 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 ...

(5 wins): * Tommy Burns, Sr. – ''Soldennis (1921), Soldumeno (1923), Cornfield (1939), Grand Weather (1947), Beau Sabreur (1948)'' * Martin Quirke – ''Salisbury (1929), Glannarg (1930), Museum (1935), Nearchus (1938), Khosro (1941)'' Leading trainer (12 wins): *

Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien (born 16 October 1969 in County Wexford, Ireland) Aidan O'Brien bio NTRA. ...

– ''Desert King (1997), Saffron Walden (1999), Black Minnaloushe (2001), Rock of Gibraltar (2002), Henrythenavigator (2008), Mastercraftsman (2009), Roderic O'Connor (2011), Power (2012), Magician (2013), Gleneagles (2015), Churchill (2017), Paddington (2023) '' Leading owner since 1950 (11 wins): ''(includes part ownership)'' *

Sue Magnier John Magnier (born 10 February 1948) is an Irish people, Irish business magnate. He is a leading thoroughbred stud (animal), stud owner and has extensive business interests outside the horse-breeding industry. Magnier was a senator in the uppe ...

– ''Saffron Walden (1999), Black Minnaloushe (2001), Rock of Gibraltar (2002), Henrythenavigator (2008), Mastercraftsman (2009), Roderic O'Connor (2011), Power (2012), Magician (2013), Gleneagles (2015), Churchill (2017), Paddington (2023)''

Winners since 1962

Earlier winners

* 1921: Soldennis * 1922: Spike Island * 1923: Soldumeno * 1924: Grand Joy * 1925: St Donagh * 1926: Embargo * 1927: Fourth Hand * 1928: Baytown * 1929: Salisbury * 1930: Glannarg * 1931: Double Arch * 1932: Lindley * 1933: Canteener * 1934: Cariff * 1935: Museum * 1936: Hocus Pocus * 1937: Phideas * 1938: Nearchus * 1939: Cornfield * 1940: Teasel * 1941: Khosro * 1942: Windsor Slipper * 1943: The Phoenix * 1944: Good Morning / Slide On * 1945: Stalino * 1946: Claro * 1947: Grand Weather * 1948: Beau Sabreur * 1949: Solonaway * 1950: Mighty Ocean * 1951: Signal Box * 1952: D C M * 1953: Sea Charger * 1954: Arctic Wind * 1955: Hugh Lupus * 1956: Lucero * 1957: Jack Ketch * 1958: Hard Ridden * 1959: El Toro * 1960: Kythnos * 1961: Light Year * 1962: Arctic Storm * 1963: Linacre * 1964:

Santa Claus Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Chris ...

References

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

Racing Post ''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing, and sports betting publisher published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 60,629 ...

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External links