Irish Derby Celebrates 141st Birthday

What a pleasure it is to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Budweiser Irish Derby. The Anheuser-Busch sponsorship over two decades has seen its popular American beer become synonymous with the flagship of Irish racing. Since Budweiser began its sponsorship of the oldest Irish Classic in 1986, its roll of honour features many of the outstanding champions of their generation. Sharastani (1986), Kahyasi (1988), Generous (1991), Commander In Chief (1993), Sinndar (2000), Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) confirmed their ability to defeat all-comers round Epsom's tricky contours and then on the testing Curragh Plains. finish_line_2005_sm150.jpgIn completing this elusive Derby double these recent winners joined an elite initiated by Orby (1907) and augmented by Santa Claus (1964), Nijinsky (1970), Grundy (1975), The Minstrel (1977), Shirley Heights (1978), Troy (1979) and Shergar (1981). The 57 year interval between Orby and Santa Claus, spanning two World Wars, is easily explained. Although in continuous existence since 1866, the Irish Derby had never carried sufficient prize money or prestige to tempt connections of Epsom Derby winners to lay reputations on the line at the Curragh. 'Boss' Croker had been the sole exception, determined that his adoptive countrymen be given the opportunity to applaud a home ground success for the first ever lrish-trained winner of the Epsom Derby. The Irish Sweeps Derby was destined to change all that. Its introduction in 1962 revolutionised Irish racing. With £30,000 added by the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes, the Irish Sweeps Derby became the richest race in Europe. From being a provincial consolation classic the Irish Derby was transformed into the most glittering prize this side of the Atlantic. The brainchild of racing supremo Joe McGrath, the Irish Sweeps Derby was brilliantly publicised and promoted by his Sweeps partner, Spencer Freeman. Lester Piggott's association with the race is famous. Meadow Court sparked memorable scenes in 1965 when joint-owner Bing Crosby thrilled the huge crowd with his impromptu rendering of 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling " while he was the darling of the crowd when winning on Ribocco, favourite in 1967, only to be demonised the next year when riding Ribocco's full-brother Ribero to defeat the apparently invincible and long odds-on Sir Ivor, hero of the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby. Poor Liam Ward gained consolation two years later when the imperious Nijinsky swept him to victory, at the immediate expense of L, Piggott on Meadowville. In 1984 Ireland's greatest race was styled the Joe McGrath Irish Sweeps Derby, when Vincent O'Brien's El Gran Senor made amends for his agonising Epsom defeat by Secreto, trained by David O'Brien, Vincent's son. However, the Curragh showpiece had by now fallen conseiderably behind its Epsom counterpart in value. The pending crisis called for initiative. Turf Club CEO Cahir O'Sullivan provided it, with the timely announcement that henceforth Anheuser-Butch of Milwaukee would sponsor Ireland's greatest race. The effect was instantaneous. HH Aga Khan's Shahrastani laid his Epsom laurels on the line at the Curragh for what was once again a comparable prize. Shahrastani succeeded and the future of the Budweiser Irish Derby was secure, with the additional bonus of international television coverage. Ironically, the intense international competition for the Budweiser Irish Derby all but removed it from the grasp of Irish trainers. When Dermot Weld took his first Irish Derby with Zagreb (Pat Shanahan) in 1996 he was the only Curragh trainer alive to claim that distinction. Since Vincent O'Brien completed his tally with Law Society in 1985 only Jim Bolger had kept the great prize at home, with St. Jovite (Christy Roche) in 1992. In recent times the Celtic Tiger has roared home a succession of lrish-trained winners of the Budweiser Irish Derby. Aidan O'Brien has been successful with Desert King (1997), Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002). John Oxx avenged his father's narrow defeat with Arctic Storm in the inaugural Irish Sweeps Derby with Sinndar (2000) and Alamshar (2003), while Dermot Weld followed up last year with Grey Swallow, the first grey to succeed since Nathoo in 1948. derby_finish_1964.jpg The 1964 Finish: A tremendous scrap for 2nd place, but Santa Claus is out on his own. Photo: Jim Connolly