| Class: | Group 1 |
| Horse Race: | Irish Derby |
| Location: | Curragh Racecourse County Kildare, Ireland |
| Inaugurated: | 1866 |
| Race Type: | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor: | Dubai Duty Free |
| Website: | Curragh |
| Distance: | 1m 4f (2,414 metres) |
| Surface: | Turf |
| Track: | Right-handed |
| Qualification: | Three-year-olds excluding geldings |
| Weight: | 9 st 0 lb Allowances 3 lb for fillies |
| Purse: | €1,000,000 (2022) 1st: €580,000 |
|}
The Irish Derby (Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) 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 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 Derby Stakes, and it is usually held four weeks after the English race.
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 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.[1] It is currently staged on the second day of the Curragh's three-day Irish Derby Festival meeting.
A total of nineteen horses have now completed the English-Irish Derby double, and the most recent was Auguste Rodin in 2023.[2]
Leading jockey (6 wins):
Leading trainer (16 wins):
Leading owner (16 wins): (includes part ownership)
A Unique Racing Record - Only Owner to complete the Derby and Grand National Double
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.
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| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | width=147px | Bright News | width=140px | Morny Wing | width=150px | Darby Rogers | width=164px | James McVey junior | |
| 1947 | width=147px | Sayajirao | width=140px | Edgar Britt | width=150px | Sam Armstrong | width=164px | HH Maharaja of Baroda | |
| 1948 | width=147px | Nathoo | width=140px | Rae Johnstone | width=150px | Frank Butters | width=164px | Aga Khan III | |
| 1949 | width=147px | Hindostan | width=140px | Rae Johnstone | width=150px | Frank Butters | width=164px | Aga Khan III | |
| 1950 | width=147px | Dark Warrior | width=140px | Jack Thompson | width=150px | Paddy Prendergast | width=164px | Mr Francis More O'Ferrall | |
| 1951 | width=147px | Fraise du Bois II | width=140px | Charlie Smirke | width=150px | Harry Wragg | width=164px | HH Begum Aga Khan | |
| 1952 | width=147px | Thirteen Of Diamonds | width=140px | Jimmy Mullane | width=150px | Paddy Prendergast | width=164px | A L Hawkins | |
| 1953 | width=147px | Chamier | width=140px | Bill Rickaby | width=150px | Vincent O'Brien | width=164px | Mrs F L Vickerson | |
| 1954 | width=147px | Zarathustra | width=140px | Paddy Powell Jnr | width=150px | Michael Hurley | width=164px | Mr Terrence J S Gray | |
| 1955 | width=147px | Panaslipper | width=140px | Jimmy Eddery | width=150px | Seamus McGrath | width=164px | Joseph McGrath | |
| 1956 | width=147px | Talgo | width=140px | Manny Mercer | width=150px | Harry Wragg | width=164px | Gerald A Oldham | |
| 1957 | width=147px | Ballymoss | width=140px | T. P. Burns | width=150px | Vincent O'Brien | width=164px | John McShain | |
| 1958 | width=147px | Sindon | width=140px | Liam Ward | width=150px | Michael Dawson | width=164px | Anne B Biddle | |
| 1959 | width=147px | Fidalgo | width=140px | Joe Mercer | width=150px | Harry Wragg | width=164px | Gerald A Oldham | 2:33.5 |
| 1960 | width=147px | Chamour | width=140px | Garnie Bougoure | width=150px | Vincent O'Brien | width=164px | F Walter Burmann | 2:37.5 |
| 1961 | width=147px | Your Highness | width=140px | Bert Holmes | width=150px | Humphrey Cottrill | width=164px | Mrs Gladys Stanhope Joel | 2:33.5 |
| 1962 | width=147px | Tambourine | width=140px | Roger Poincelet | width=150px | Etienne Pollet | width=164px | Mrs Howell Jackson | 2:28.80 |
| 1963 | Ragusa | Garnie Bougoure | Paddy Prendergast | Jim Mullion | 2:45.60 | ||||
| 1964 | Santa Claus | Willie Burke | Mick Rogers | John Ismay | 2:35.60 | ||||
| 1965 | Meadow Court | Lester Piggott | Paddy Prendergast | Bell / McMahon / Crosby | 2:46.80 | ||||
| 1966 | Sodium | Frankie Durr | George Todd | Radha Sigtia | 2:31.50 | ||||
| 1967 | Ribocco | Lester Piggott | Fulke Johnson Houghton | Charles Engelhard | 2:32.40 | ||||
| 1968 | Ribero | Lester Piggott | Fulke Johnson Houghton | Charles Engelhard | 2:33.90 | ||||
| 1969 | Prince Regent | Geoff Lewis | Etienne Pollet | Countess de la Valdène | 2:36.10 | ||||
| 1970 | Nijinsky | Liam Ward | Vincent O'Brien | Charles Engelhard | 2:36.80 | ||||
| 1971 | Irish Ball | Alfred Gibert | Philippe Lallié | Emile Littler | 2:33.80 | ||||
| 1972 | Steel Pulse | Bill Williamson | Scobie Breasley | Ravi Tikkoo | 2:39.80 | ||||
| 1973 | Weavers' Hall | George McGrath | Seamus McGrath | Seamus McGrath | 2:39.00 | ||||
| 1974 | English Prince | Yves Saint-Martin | Peter Walwyn | Vera Hue-Williams | 2:33.40 | ||||
| 1975 | Grundy | Pat Eddery | Peter Walwyn | Carlo Vittadini | 2:31.10 | ||||
| 1976 | Malacate | Philippe Paquet | François Boutin | María Félix Berger | 2:31.20 | ||||
| 1977 | The Minstrel | Lester Piggott | Vincent O'Brien | Robert Sangster | 2:32.00 | ||||
| 1978 | Shirley Heights | Greville Starkey | John Dunlop | 2nd Earl of Halifax | 2:32.30 | ||||
| 1979 | Troy | Willie Carson | Dick Hern | Sobell / Weinstock | 2:30.60 | ||||
| 1980 | Tyrnavos | Tony Murray | Bruce Hobbs | George Cambanis | 2:43.80 | ||||
| 1981 | Shergar | Lester Piggott | Michael Stoute | HH Aga Khan IV | 2:32.70 | ||||
| 1982 | Assert | Christy Roche | David O'Brien | Robert Sangster | 2:33.20 | ||||
| 1983 | Shareef Dancer | Walter Swinburn | Michael Stoute | Maktoum Al Maktoum | 2:29.40 | ||||
| 1984 | El Gran Senor | Pat Eddery | Vincent O'Brien | Robert Sangster | 2:31.50 | ||||
| 1985 | Law Society | Pat Eddery | Vincent O'Brien | Stavros Niarchos | 2:29.90 | ||||
| 1986 | Shahrastani | Walter Swinburn | Michael Stoute | HH Aga Khan IV | 2:32.10 | ||||
| 1987 | Sir Harry Lewis | John Reid | Barry Hills | Howard Kaskel | 2:40.20 | ||||
| 1988 | Kahyasi | Ray Cochrane | Luca Cumani | HH Aga Khan IV | 2:32.50 | ||||
| 1989 | Old Vic | Steve Cauthen | Henry Cecil | Sheikh Mohammed | 2:29.90 | ||||
| 1990 | Salsabil | Willie Carson | John Dunlop | Hamdan Al Maktoum | 2:33.00 | ||||
| 1991 | Generous | Alan Munro | Paul Cole | Prince Fahd bin Salman | 2:33.30 | ||||
| 1992 | St Jovite | Christy Roche | Jim Bolger | Virginia Kraft Payson | 2:25.60 | ||||
| 1993 | Commander in Chief | Pat Eddery | Henry Cecil | Khalid Abdullah | 2:31.20 | ||||
| 1994 | Balanchine | Frankie Dettori | Hilal Ibrahim | Godolphin | 2:32.70 | ||||
| 1995 | Winged Love | Olivier Peslier | André Fabre | Sheikh Mohammed | 2:30.10 | ||||
| 1996 | Zagreb | Pat Shanahan | Dermot Weld | Allen Paulson | 2:30.60 | ||||
| 1997 | Desert King | Christy Roche | Aidan O'Brien | Michael Tabor | 2:32.50 | ||||
| 1998 | Dream Well | Cash Asmussen | Pascal Bary | Niarchos Family | 2:44.30 | ||||
| 1999 | Montjeu | Cash Asmussen | John Hammond | Michael Tabor | 2:30.10 | ||||
| 2000 | Sinndar | Johnny Murtagh | John Oxx | HH Aga Khan IV | 2:33.90 | ||||
| 2001 | Galileo | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien | Magnier / Tabor | 2:27.10 | ||||
| 2002 | High Chaparral | Michael Kinane | Aidan O'Brien | Tabor / Magnier | 2:32.20 | ||||
| 2003 | Alamshar | Johnny Murtagh | John Oxx | Aga Khan IV | 2:28.20 | ||||
| 2004 | Grey Swallow | Pat Smullen | Dermot Weld | Rochelle Quinn | 2:28.70 | ||||
| 2005 | Hurricane Run | Kieren Fallon | André Fabre | Gestut Ammerland | 2:29.40 | ||||
| 2006 | Dylan Thomas | Kieren Fallon | Aidan O'Brien | Magnier / Tabor | 2:29.70 | ||||
| 2007 | Soldier of Fortune | Seamie Heffernan | Aidan O'Brien | Magnier / Tabor / Smith | 2:36.02 | ||||
| 2008 | Frozen Fire | Seamie Heffernan | Aidan O'Brien | Tabor / Smith / Magnier | 2:31.96 | ||||
| 2009 | Fame and Glory | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien | Smith / Magnier / Tabor | 2:30.87 | ||||
| 2010 | Cape Blanco | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien | Smith / Magnier / Tabor | 2:28.68 | ||||
| 2011 | Treasure Beach | Colm O'Donoghue | Aidan O'Brien | Smith / Magnier / Tabor | 2:33.26 | ||||
| 2012 | Camelot | Joseph O'Brien | Aidan O'Brien | Derrick Smith | 2:43.96 | ||||
| 2013 | Trading Leather | Kevin Manning | Jim Bolger | Mrs J S Bolger | 2:27.17 | ||||
| 2014 | Australia | Joseph O'Brien | Aidan O'Brien | Smith / Magnier / Tabor | 2:33.19 | ||||
| 2015 | Jack Hobbs | William Buick | John Gosden | Godolphin & Partners | 2:34:93 | ||||
| 2016 | Harzand | Pat Smullen | Dermot Weld | Aga Khan IV | 2:38:05 | ||||
| 2017 | Capri | Seamie Heffernan | Aidan O'Brien | Smith / Magnier / Tabor | 2:35.45 | ||||
| 2018 | Latrobe | Donnacha O'Brien | Joseph O'Brien | Lloyd Williams | 2:32.62 | ||||
| 2019 | Sovereign | Padraig Beggy | Aidan O'Brien | Magnier / Tabor / Smith | 2:31.50 | ||||
| 2020 | Santiago | Seamie Heffernan | Aidan O'Brien | Tabor / Smith / Magnier | 2:38.17 | ||||
| 2021 | Hurricane Lane | William Buick | Charlie Appleby | Godolphin | 2:33.85 | ||||
| 2022 | Westover | Colin Keane | Ralph Beckett | Juddmonte | 2:34.80 | ||||
| 2023 | Auguste Rodin | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien | Tabor / Smith / Magnier / Westerberg | 2:33.24 | ||||
| 2024 | Los Angeles | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien | 2:28.15 |