The Irish Derby () 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.
History 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. It is currently staged on the third day of the Curragh's three-day Irish Derby Festival meeting.
Twenty horses have now completed the English-Irish Derby double, and the most recent was Lambourn in 2025.
Records Leading jockey (6 wins): Morny Wing – Ballyheron (1921), Waygood (1923), Rock Star (1930), Rosewell (1938), Windsor Slipper (1942), Bright News (1946)
Leading trainer (18 wins): Aidan O'Brien – Desert King (1997), Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Dylan Thomas (2006), Soldier of Fortune (2007), Frozen Fire (2008), Fame and Glory (2009), Cape Blanco (2010), Treasure Beach (2011), Camelot (2012), Australia (2014), Capri (2017), Sovereign (2019), Santiago (2020),Auguste Rodin (2023), Los Angeles (2024), Lambourn (2025), Benvenuto Cellini (2026)
Leading owner (18 wins): (includes part ownership) Michael Tabor – Desert King (1997), Montjeu (1999), Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Dylan Thomas (2006), Soldier of Fortune (2007), Frozen Fire (2008), Fame and Glory (2009), Cape Blanco (2010), Treasure Beach (2011), Australia (2014), Capri (2017), Sovereign (2019), Santiago (2020),Auguste Rodin (2023), Los Angeles (2024), Lambourn (2025), Benvenuto Cellini (2026)
A Unique Racing Record - Only Owner to complete the Derby and Grand National Double
William Brophy, Herbertstown House, Two-Mile-House, Naas, County Kildare. Farmer, Breeder and Owner 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.
Winners since 1946 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1946 Bright News Morny Wing Darby Rogers James McVey junior 1947 Sayajirao Edgar Britt Sam Armstrong HH Maharaja of Baroda 1948 Nathoo Rae Johnstone Frank Butters Aga Khan III 1949 Hindostan Rae Johnstone Frank Butters Aga Khan III 1950 Dark Warrior Jack Thompson Paddy Prendergast Mr Francis More O'Ferrall 1951 Fraise du Bois II Charlie Smirke Harry Wragg HH Begum Aga Khan 1952 Thirteen Of Diamonds Jimmy Mullane Paddy Prendergast A L Hawkins 1953 Chamier Bill Rickaby Vincent O'Brien Mrs F L Vickerson 1954 Zarathustra Paddy Powell Jnr Michael Hurley Mr Terrence J S Gray 1955 Panaslipper Jimmy Eddery Seamus McGrath Joseph McGrath 1956 Talgo Manny Mercer Harry Wragg Gerald A Oldham 1957 Ballymoss T. P. Burns Vincent O'Brien John McShain 1958 Sindon Liam Ward Michael Dawson Anne B Biddle 1959 Fidalgo Joe Mercer Harry Wragg Gerald A Oldham 2:33.5 1960 Chamour Garnie Bougoure Vincent O'Brien F Walter Burmann 2:37.5 1961 Your Highness Bert Holmes Humphrey Cottrill Mrs Gladys Stanhope Joel 2:33.5 1962 Tambourine Roger Poincelet Etienne Pollet 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 Westerberg/Tabor / Smith / Magnier 2:28.15 2025 Lambourn Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Magnier /Tabor / Smith 2:29.18 2026 Benvenuto Cellini Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Brant / Magnier /Tabor / Smith / Westerberg 2:28.33 Premonition finished first in 1953 but was disqualified.
Earlier winners
1866: Selim 1867: Golden Plover 1868: Madeira 1869: The Scout 1870: Billy Pitt 1871: Maid of Athens 1872: Trickstress 1873: Kyrle Daly 1874: Ben Battle 1875: Innishowen 1876: Umpire 1877: Redskin 1878: Madame du Barry 1879: Soulouque 1880: King of the Bees 1881: Master Ned 1882: Sortie 1883: Sylph 1884: Theologian 1885: St Kevin 1886: Theodemir 1887: Pet Fox 1888: Theodolite 1889: Tragedy 1890: Kentish Fire 1891: Narraghmore 1892: Roy Neil 1893: Bowline 1894: Blairfinde 1895: Portmarnock 1896: Gulsalberk 1897: Wales 1898: Noble Howard 1899: Oppressor 1900: Gallinaria 1901: Carrigavalla 1902: St Brendan 1903: Lord Rossmore 1904: Royal Arch 1905: Flax Park 1906: Killeagh 1907: Orby 1908: Wild Bouquet 1909: Bachelor's Double 1910: Aviator 1911: Shanballymore 1912: Civility 1913: Bachelor's Wedding 1914: Land of Song 1915: Ballaghtobin 1916: Furore 1917: First Flier 1918: King John 1919: Loch Lomond 1920: He Goes 1921: Ballyheron 1922: Spike Island 1923: Waygood 1924: Haine / Zodiac 1 1925: Zionist 1926: Embargo 1927: Knight of the Grail 1928: Baytown 1929: Kopi 1930: Rock Star 1931: Sea Serpent 1932: Dastur 1933: Harinero 1934: Patriot King / Primero 1935: Museum 1936: Raeburn 1937: Phideas 1938: Rosewell 1939: Mondragon 1940: Turkhan 1941: Sol Oriens 1942: Windsor Slipper 1943: The Phoenix 1944: Slide On 1945: Piccadilly
See also Horse racing in Ireland Irish Triple Crown race winners List of Irish flat horse races
References
Paris-Turf: , , , , , , , , Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
External links Race Recordings (1966, 1970, 1977–2005) youtube.com galopp-sieger.de – Irish Derby Stakes. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Irish Derby (2018). irishracinggreats.com – Irish Derby (Group 1). pedigreequery.com – Irish Derby – Curragh. tbheritage.com – Irish Derby Stakes.
The Sweeney guide to the Irish turf from 1501 to 2001 /by Tony & Annie Sweeney in association with Francis Hyland; photographs by Caroline Norris ... [et al.].