The Curragh set to stage 150th Irish Derby this year

The Curragh set to stage 150th Irish Derby this year

On Saturday 27th June 2015, the race will be run for the 150th time.

Whether it was the breathtaking late acceleration shown by Nijinsky in 1970, the facile display in victory from Shergar in 1981, the blistering dominance of Galileo in 2001 or Camelot's tough-as-teak slog success in the race in 2012, most people will have a contrasting memory of the Irish Derby.

On Saturday 27th June 2015, the race will be run for the 150th time and one horse will add their name to the list of the many greats that have won this race in the past.

This significant anniversary of Ireland's most iconic and valuable horse race will give the county a huge opportunity to benefit from the profile the event will generate and from the visitors who will be attracted by this very special day.

The celebrations will focus on the national heritage of the Irish Derby, and recognised the heroic tales, epic battles, great heroes, influential figures, racing clubs, communities and visionary strategies that have helped this race become such a significant international event.

The Irish Derby was first organised in 1866 having been created by the 3rd Earl of Howth, the 3rd Marquess of Drogheda and 3rd Earl of Charlemont. The first running of the race in 1866 attracted just three runners and it saw the English raider Selim beat Tom King by three lengths.

Perhaps the most memorable renewal of the Irish Derby in the first 50 years of its existence came in 1907. Orby, owned by Richard 'Boss' Croker, had become the first-ever Irish-trained horse to win the Derby at Epsom and in what was a significant boost for the Irish Derby at the time, Orby had his next race at the Curragh and duly became the first horse to attempt and complete the Epsom/Irish Derby double.   Meadow Court owned by the legendary Bing Crosby was another significant winner when he won the race in 1965.

Without doubt the most important moment in the history of the Irish Derby came in 1962 with Joe McGrath, the founder of the Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake, linking the sweepstake to the Irish Derby. This led to the prize money being increased from £8,000 to £50,000, transforming the race from a domestic showpiece to a contest of international significance. The Irish Sweepstakes was the first commercial sponsor of the race and were followed by Budweiser and Dubai Duty Free, the world's most successful airport retailer, who commence their support of the race in 2008.

The surname O'Brien is synonymous with the race and Aidan O'Brien has dominated the race in recent times. Dr Vincent O'Brien, trained six winners, spanning 32 years from Chamier in 1953 to Law Society in 1985 but in recent times however, the race has been influenced by one man - Aidan O'Brien. When Desert King crossed the line a length ahead of Dr Johnson in the 1997 Irish Derby and provided the Co Tipperary trainer with his first victory in the race, the scale of the trainer's dominance in Ireland's classics could not have been predicted.

Since that victory, O'Brien has won the race 11 times. Galileo, High Chaparral, Dylan Thomas, Soldier of Fortune, Frozen Fire, Fame and Glory, Cape Blanco and Treasure Beach, together with Camelot and Australia both ridden by the trainer's son Joseph, all followed in Desert King's footsteps and all remarkably have been trained by O'Brien.

So what separates the Irish Derby from the rest?

Not only has the Irish Derby been at the forefront of the Irish horse racing industry but the event is still one of the premier social events of the year attracting people from across the globe.

The Irish Derby is a race steeped in history and the 150th running is fast approaching and as things stand, it is an alluring contest and a race that will continue to showcase County Kildare's thriving thoroughbred racing industry.

We want everybody to unite in the celebrations as we position the Irish Derby for the next 150 years, ensuring it provides an enduring legacy for all Irish while retaining its place on the world stage.

The 150th Irish Derby is the highlight of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival taking place from the 26th to 28th June 2015. For tickets and information, see www.curragh.ie


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