Curragh Betting Odds | Horse Racing | Oddschecker Racing Tips Curragh Betting Odds The word 'Curragh' means place of the running horse in Gaelic, and the plain in County Kildare is the home of Irish racing. The racecourse is used exclusively for flat racing, and host to all five Classics. Curragh Home to the five Irish classics, The Curragh is a right-handed horseshoe shaped course with a circuit of two miles with no sharp bends and a straight run in of three furlongs uphill. Races over five and six furlongs take place on an adjoining straight course, and mile races join onto this course after a two furlong chute. It is recognised as a very fair galloping track. Featured Events Racecourse Facilities About Racecourse The word "Curragh" means place of the running horse. The historic Curragh Racecourse is the home of Flat racing in Ireland and the venue for all five Irish Classic races and the second day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend. The Irish Derby, which takes place at the height of summer, is the richest race in the Irish calendar.

Located just off the M7, the main Dublin/Cork road, in the heart of County Kildare, the Curragh racecourse has a busy schedule of race meetings between March and October every year. The big early season event is the Guineas Festival in May followed by the Summer highlights of the Irish Derby Festival and Irish Oaks weekend. The Curragh racecourse is also the focal point for the Irish Thoroughbred Trail, one of the highlights of Longines Irish Champions Weekend in September. The Curragh Racecourse is also home to the Curragh Training ground which has seen many starts of the track including Sea The Stars, Vintage Crop, Hardy Eustace and Sinndar. The Curragh Training Grounds provide trainers with the opportunity to prepare their horses on approximately 1,500 acres of world-class training facilities. The standard and range of gallops on offer is really quite remarkable and led to Dermot Weld describing the facilities as "unquestionably one of the finest training grounds in the world". Racecards | Runners and riders from races across the UK on Channel 4 Racing 3.30 Curragh racecourse The home of Irish Flat racing and the largest horse racing centre in the country.

Situated on the Curragh County plains, it is 3km from the town of Newbridge in Co. Kildare and less than an hour from Dublin. The five Irish Classics, highlighted by Irish Derby weekend at the end of June, all take place on this sacred turf as are so many of Ireland's major races. The track is horseshoe-shaped with a circuit of two miles, a run in of three furlongs and an uphill finish. The first official racing took place in 1741. Address: The Most Famous and Awesome Horse Racing Courses Around the World Follow Us The Most Famous and Awesome Horse Racing Courses Around the World Horse racing is one of the fanciest, wealthiest and most popular sports in the world. The venue of the sport is just about as popular as its contestants are! Here is an account of the world's most famous horse racing courses. Advertisement There is something about riding down the street on a prancing horse that makes you feel like something, even when you ain't a thing. ~ Will Rogers That should explain why anyone who likes animals, loves horses! The sheer strength, beauty and grace that a horse exhibits is unparalleled.

The sound of the hoofs when the horse trots, the hypnotic sight of a horse grazing in the field, the adrenaline rush you experience at the sound and sight of a galloping horse, are feelings that will leave a lifelong impression on your mind's eye. You will never forget the first time you rode a horse; you will always remember, in great detail, the time when you saw a herd of horses galloping along the countryside; and unless you have the means, you will always hope and wish to have a horse! Given the emotions we associate with horses, it isn't difficult to understand the popularity of Equestrian sports - right from show jumping, to dressage, to perhaps the most popular form of Equestrian sport, horse racing. Horse racing has a history of over a couple thousand years, with the earliest record of horse domestication dating back to ca. 4000 B.C. Historically, horse racing was a part of the ancient Greek Olympics, with chariot racing being the most popular Equestrian sport.

However, several forms of horse racing such as flat race, steeplechase (in which hurdles and fences are placed in the horse's track), endurance riding, etc., have now been established and have gained immense popularity over the years. World Famous Horse Racing Courses Horse racing events are held at horse racecourses, alternatively known as horse racetracks. Horse racetracks require special care and maintenance, as much as - or even more than - the fields that host football, cricket, tennis and other sports. There is a lot that goes into building a state-of-the-art racecourse. To give you a rough idea, the Meydan Racecourse of Dubai, UAE took an estimated $2 billion to be built! No doubt, derby is an expensive affair. There are many top-class racecourses around the world, some as old as modern-day horse racing itself, and some only as young as the minimum age of a racing horse! Here is an account of famous horse racing courses from around the world. North America Contrary to popular belief, horse racing as a sport was established in North America almost two centuries before it was in the UK.

The first ever racing meet of North America took place in the year 1665, under the supervision of the then New York's colonial governor, Richard Nicolls, with the first racetrack being built in the same year. However, it wasn't until the later half of the 18th century that the sport of horse racing gained a proper organized form. Here are some of the most famous horse racing courses in America. USA Location: Louisville, Kentucky Notable for:Kentucky Derby, Stephen Foster Handicap The biggest racecourse (in terms of seating capacity), Churchill Downs is home to one of the races of the United States Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby. (The second race of the Triple Crown is the Preakness Derby held at Pimlico Race Course, and the third is the Belmont Stakes held at Belmont Park.) Built in 1875, it was designated a National Historic Landmark a 111 years later, in 1986. The dirt track on which the derby is held, measures 1 mile in circumference and runs around the inner turf course. The racecourse also houses a clubhouse and a museum, and is undoubtedly one of the best horse racing courses around the world.

♞ Belmont Park Location: Elmont, New York Notable for:Belmont Stakes Hosting the third leg of the United States Triple Crown "Belmont Stakes", Belmont Park is also known as "The Champion Track", owing to the fact that every champion in horse racing has competed at least once on the track. The legendary horse Secretariat set one of the two world records on this very racetrack - his Belmont Stakes victory of 2 minutes 24 seconds remains undefeated to date. He set his Kentucky Derby world record (1 minute 592⁄5 seconds) on the Churchill Downs racetrack. A statue of Secretariat was placed in the paddock of Belmont Park to honor him. ♞ Del Mar Racetrack Location: Del Mar, California Notable for:Del Mar Oaks (G1), Pacific Classic (G1) With a 1 mile inner dirt track and a seven furlong outer turf course, the Del Mar Racetrack runs by the slogan "Where The Turf Meets The Surf".

In its second year (i.e., in the year 1938) Del Mar hosted the historic race between racehorses Seabiscuit and Ligaroti, which went on to become the first race to be broadcast on NBC radio. With a grandstand located right on top of the Pacific Ocean, it hosts races from July to September every year. ♞ Santa Anita Park Location: Arcadia, California Notable for:Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Santa Anita Derby (G1) Santa Anita Park is unanimously called the most beautiful horse racing course in the world, with the simultaneous massive and magnificent backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains. It has a natural dirt track of 1 mile, and a shorter inner turf course. Santa Anita Park honors a chosen jockey with the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award every year. It has been listed in the United States National Register of Historic Places.

♞ Keeneland Location: Lexington, Kentucky Notable for:Blue Grass Stakes (G1) Ranked #1 by the Horseplayers Association of North America in 2009, and included both in the National Register of Historic Places and list of National Historic Landmarks in the US, Keeneland is one of the best horse racing courses around the world. It has a 1710 m dirt track and a 1509 m turf. Apart from horse racing, Keeneland is also popular for its horse auctions - held four times a year - and its exhaustive reference library on horse racing. Canada Location: Toronto, Ontario Notable for:Canadian International Stakes (G1), Queen's Plate (G1) The track to host the first ever Summer Paralympics in 1976, Woodbine Racetrack has a total of three racecourses, since 1994 - the 1.5 mile E. P. Taylor thoroughbred turf course (named after famous business tycoon and breeder Edward "Eddie" Plunket Taylor); the inner 1 mile thoroughbred Polytrack; and the innermost 0.875 miles crushed limestone racecourse for Standardbred horses.

It is the only track in North America that holds thoroughbred and standardbred races on the same day. ♞ Hastings Racecourse Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Notable for:British Columbia Breeders' Cup Derby (G3) Hastings Racecourse was opened in the year 1889 and is home to British Columbia Breeders' Cup Derby. It is a 1⅛ miles race held on a dirt track, one of the most important races for 3-year old horses held at Hastings annually. It is also one of the richest races held at Hastings, with a purse of $250,000. South America Although many world-class racecourses do exist in South America, horse racing as a sport is not so famous in South America, as it is in some other parts of the world. Nevertheless, horse races such as the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini in Argentina are quite popular and famous and draw audiences from all over the continent. Here is an account of few of the racecourses in South America.

♞ Hipódromo de San Isidro Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Notable for:Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini The biggest racetrack in both North America and South America, Hipódromo de San Isidro was opened in 1935. It has a 2,783 meter long turf, on which 1000-meter long races are held. It is home to the single most important horse race in Argentina, the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini. It is held every December. ♞ Hipodromo Nacional de Maroñas Location: Montevideo, Uruguay Notable for:Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez This racing track was opened in 1874. It has a 1.28 mile main dirt track on which races are held and a 1.24 mile training track. The most important of the races held on the track is the Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez. It is a 1.49 miles race, held on Three Kings' Day every year. Apart from that, local horse races are held every weekend. The facility also includes a casino and café.

♞ Hipodromo La Rinconada Location: Caracas, Venezuela Notable for:Gran Premio Clásico Simón Bolívar (G1) Claimed to be one of the most modern racetracks in the continent, Hipodromo La Rinconada was opened in 1959. Along with Gran Premio Clásico Simón Bolívar (G1), the Hipica Gala event hosted by this racetrack is also of prominence. The racecourse also houses a Museum of Arts, and the famous Alejandro Otero El Polyhedron. Europe Europe - particularly UK, France and Ireland - has a glorious and long history of horse racing, dating back to the early 18th century. The most popular form of horse racing in Europe is steeplechase (wherein horses have to jump over hurdles or fences). Competitive horse racing in UK is collectively called the National Hunt, or simply 'The National'. It is the single most prominent and prestigious horse racing event in Europe.

England Location: Aintree, Merseyside Notable for:Grand National There probably isn't a single derby fan who hasn't heard of the Aintree Racecourse; it is after all the most famous horse racing course in England. Aintree is home to the most definitive National Hunt steeplechase, the Grand National (which is also considered the most difficult steeplechase in the world, with 30 fences spread over a distance of 7,242 meters). If you are a great derby fan, you must, at least once in your lifetime, witness the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse. It is held every April. ♞ Cheltenham Racecourse Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Notable for:Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle With a natural amphitheater along the escarpment of the Cotswolds hills, the Cheltenham Racecourse is as much popular for its scenic beauty as it is for hosting one of the most important and élite horse racing events, the Cheltenham Festival. The festival comprises four renowned races - Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Stayers Hurdle.

The Steeplechasing Hall of Fame is also housed at Cheltenham Racecourse. This is another place you absolutely should visit! ♞ Ascot Racecourse Location: Ascot, Berkshire Notable for:King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot Gold Cup The Ascot Racecourse hosts a whopping 9 of the 32 annual G1 races in UK and is one of the élite horse racing courses in England. The best time to visit Ascot would be in the months of June and July when two of its most prestigious races, viz., Ascot Gold Cup and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, are held. Members of the Royal British Family attend the Royal Ascot (established in 1711 by Queen Anne) every year at the Ascot Racecourse. Ireland Location: Newbridge, Co. Kildare Notable for:Irish Derby (G1) The name Curragh is a derivative of the Irish word Cuirreach, which means "racecourse".

The racecourse hosts all the five classic Irish horse racing events, viz., Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1), Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1), Irish Derby (G1), Irish Oaks (G1) and finally the Irish St. Leger (G1). These are also the races with the highest purses in Ireland. Though the first derby took place only in 1866, horse racing has been witnessed by this racecourse since as early as 1727. France Location: Chantilly, Oise Notable for:Prix du Jockey Club, Prix de Diane Chantilly Racecourse hosts 2 of the 4 French Classics, viz., the Prix du Jockey Club, and the Prix de Diane. The main course of Chantilly is 2400 meters long. The grandstand of this racecourse has never witnessed a renovation and/or reconstruction. It is as it was, when built in 1879. The racecourse also homes a 186-meter long stable, considered to be the finest and most beautiful in the world.

♞ Longchamp Racecourse (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe) Location: Route des Tribunes Bois de Boulogne, Paris Notable for:Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Most famous for hosting the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (one of the four French Classics, held every October), the specialty of the Longchamp Racecourse is that it has several interlocked racetracks, thus providing for great variety in the racing distances. More than half of the G1 category races of France are held at Longchamp. Australia Not many people know that the Australian thoroughbred horse racing industry ranks #3 in the world. Yes, you read that right! The single most important horse race in Australia is the Melbourne Cup, which has been dubbed the "race that stops a nation". Competitive endurance riding is also quite popular in Australia, with the Tom Quilty Gold Cup being the most coveted award. Given below is a brief account of world famous horse racing courses in Australia.

♞ Flemington Racecourse Location: Flemington, Victoria Notable for:The Melbourne Cup, Victoria Derby Home to the Australian horse race with the highest purse, viz., The Melbourne Cup, the Flemington Racecourse boasts a 2312-meter long racetrack along which races are run anticlockwise, rather than clockwise. The racecourse sports a bronze statue of Phar Lap, a magnificent racehorse trained in Australia. Included in the Australian National Heritage List in 2006, Flemington hosts most of the important Australian horse racing events. ♞ Randwick Racecourse Location: Eastern Suburbs, Sydney Notable for:Australian Derby Another illustrious racecourse in Australia, the Randwick Racecourse hosts many races like the Australian Derby, the AJC Oaks, AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (historically known as the Queen's Plate). Apart from being a venue for these and other famous races, Randwick Racecourse has also been used as a location for shooting parts of the film Mission Impossible II, and is also used as a venue for the University of New South Wales exams! Fancy appearing for an exam in a racecourse ... cool, isn't it?

♞ Caulfield Racecourse Location: Caulfield, Victoria Notable for:Caulfield Cup, Caulfield Guineas, Blue Diamond Stakes One of the most popular horse racing courses in Australia, the Caulfield Racecourse is 2080 meters long, and shaped like a triangle, with 4% to 6% banking along the turns. Also known as "The Heath" locally, races are held on the track for about 20 days in a year. Africa On the African continent, horse racing is primarily centered at Mauritius and South Africa. Most of the racehorses that contest in the different racing events are bred in South Africa, though sometimes they may be imported from other countries too, especially from UK and France. Each year, South Africa and Mauritius both attract enthusiasts from all over the world for the different racing events they host. Here are some of the famous racecourses of Africa. ♞ Turffontein Racecourse Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Notable for:South African Derby Such is the racing course of this famous racetrack from Australia, that it is unanimously considered as the true test of a horse's stamina.

With an inner as well as an outer turf, Turffontein hosts the G1 South African Derby and the Summer Cup every November. It was founded in 1887. ♞ Champ de Mars Racecourse Location: Port Louis, Mauritius Notable for:Maiden Cup Champ de Mars Racecourse is home to the third-oldest active horse-racing clubs in the world, viz., Mauritius Turf Club. In itself, Champ de Mars Racecourse is the oldest racetrack in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. The year that it was founded, Champ de Mars Racecourse hosted the first organized race meeting in the history of Mauritius! With a total circumference of 1298 meters, it is a small racetrack, albeit a very popular one. In fact, horse racing as such is a very popular sport in Mauritius. Asia Location: Tokyo, Japan Notable for:Japan Cup, Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) With seating provision to hold over 200,000 people at a time, the Tokyo Racecourse is undoubtedly the biggest in the world, in terms of seating capacity.

There are in all three racetracks - the turf track measures 2083 meters, the dirt track measures 1899 meters, while the jump track measures 1675 meters. The Tokyo Racecourse also houses one of the largest video screens in the world. ♞ Meydan Racecourse horse racing | sport | Britannica.com Horse racing Triple Crown Horse racing, sport of running horses at speed, mainly Thoroughbreds with a rider astride or Standardbreds with the horse pulling a conveyance with a driver. These two kinds of racing are called racing on the flat and harness racing , respectively. Some races on the flat—such as steeplechase , point-to-point , and hurdle races —involve jumping. This article is confined to Thoroughbred horse racing on the flat without jumps. Racing on the flat with horses other than Thoroughbreds is described in the article quarter-horse racing . Camelot (right), ridden by Joseph O’Brien, after beating French Fifteenth to win the Two Thousand … Press Association/AP Horse racing is one of the oldest of all sports , and its basic concept has undergone virtually no change over the centuries.

It developed from a primitive contest of speed or stamina between two horses into a spectacle involving large fields of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and immense sums of money, but its essential feature has always been the same: the horse that finishes first is the winner. In the modern era, horse racing developed from a diversion of the leisure class into a huge public-entertainment business. By the first decades of the 21st century, however, the sport’s popularity had shrunk considerably. A discussion concerning the museum at the racetrack in Saratoga Springs, New York, from the … Great Museums Television (A Britannica Publishing Partner) Early history Knowledge of the first horse race is lost in prehistory. Both four-hitch chariot and mounted (bareback) races were held in the Olympic Games of Greece over the period 700–40 bce. Horse racing, both of chariots and of mounted riders, was a well-organized public entertainment in the Roman Empire. The history of organized racing in other ancient civilizations is not very firmly established.

Presumably, organized racing began in such countries as China , Persia, Arabia, and other countries of the Middle East and in North Africa , where horsemanship early became highly developed. Thence came too the Arabian, Barb, and Turk horses that contributed to the earliest European racing. Such horses became familiar to Europeans during the Crusades (11th–13th century ce), from which they brought those horses back. Similar Topics sledding Racing in medieval England began when horses for sale were ridden in competition by professional riders to display the horses’ speed to buyers. During the reign of Richard the Lion-Heart (1189–99), the first known racing purse was offered, £40, for a race run over a 3-mile (4.8-km) course with knights as riders. In the 16th century Henry VIII imported horses from Italy and Spain (presumably Barbs) and established studs at several locations. In the 17th century James I sponsored meetings in England. His successor, Charles I , had a stud of 139 horses when he died in 1649.

Organized racing Charles II (reigned 1660–85) became known as “the father of the English turf” and inaugurated the King’s Plates, races for which prizes were awarded to the winners. His articles for these races were the earliest national racing rules. The horses raced were six years old and carried 168 pounds (76 kg), and the winner was the first to win two 4-mile (6.4-km) heats. The patronage of Charles II established Newmarket as the headquarters of English racing. In France the first documented horse race was held in 1651 as the result of a wager between two noblemen. During the reign of Louis XIV (1643–1715), racing based on gambling was prevalent. Louis XVI (reigned 1774–93) organized a jockey club and established rules of racing by royal decree that included requiring certificates of origin for horses and imposing extra weight on foreign horses. Organized racing in North America began with the British occupation of New Amsterdam (now New York City ) in 1664. Col.

Richard Nicolls , commander of the British troops, established organized racing in the colonies by laying out a 2-mile (3.2-km) course on the plains of Long Island (called Newmarket after the British racecourse) and offering a silver cup to the best horses in the spring and fall seasons. From the beginning, and continuing until the Civil War, the hallmark of excellence for the American Thoroughbred was stamina, rather than speed. After the Civil War, speed became the goal and the British system the model. Match races Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent The earliest races were match races between two or at most three horses, the owners providing the purse, a simple wager. An owner who withdrew commonly forfeited half the purse, later the whole purse, and bets also came under the same “play or pay” rule. Agreements were recorded by disinterested third parties, who came to be called keepers of the match book.

One such keeper at Newmarket in England, John Cheny, began publishing An Historical List of All Horse-Matches Run (1729), a consolidation of match books at various racing centres, and this work was continued annually with varying titles, until in 1773 James Weatherby established it as the Racing Calendar, which was continued thereafter by his family. Open field racing Turn Up the Heat By the mid-18th century the demand for more public racing had produced open events with larger fields of runners. Eligibility rules were developed based on the age, sex, birthplace, and previous performance of horses and the qualifications of riders. Races were created in which owners were the riders (gentlemen riders), in which the field was restricted geographically to a township or county, and in which only horses that had not won more than a certain amount were entered. An act of the British Parliament of 1740 provided that horses entered had to be the bona fide property of the owners, thus preventing “ringers,” a superior horse entered fraudulently against inferior horses; horses had to be certified as to age; and there were penalties for rough riding.

Contemporary accounts identified riders (in England called jockeys—if professional—from the second half of the 17th century and later in French racing), but their names were not at first officially recorded. Only the names of winning trainers and riders were at first recorded in the Racing Calendar, but by the late 1850s all were named. This neglect of the riders is partly explained in that when races consisted of 4-mile heats, with the winning of two heats needed for victory, the individual rider’s judgment and skill were not so vital. As dash racing (one heat) became the rule, a few yards in a race gained importance, and, consequently, so did the rider’s skill and judgment in coaxing that advantage from his mount. Bloodlines and studbooks Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest All horse racing on the flat except quarter-horse racing involves Thoroughbred horses. Thoroughbreds evolved from a mixture of Arab, Turk, and Barb horses with native English stock. Private studbooks had existed from the early 17th century, but they were not invariably reliable. In 1791 Weatherby published An Introduction to a General Stud Book , the pedigrees being based on earlier Racing Calendars and sales papers.

After a few years of revision, it was updated annually. All Thoroughbreds are said to descend from three “Oriental” stallions (the Darley Arabian , the Godolphin Barb , and the Byerly Turk , all brought to Great Britain, 1690–1730) and from 43 “royal” mares (those imported by Charles II). The preeminence of English racing and hence of the General Stud Book from 1791 provided a standard for judging a horse’s breeding (and thereby, at least to some degree, its racing qualities). In France the Stud Book Française (beginning in 1838) originally included two classifications: Orientale (Arab, Turk, and Barb) and Anglais (mixtures according to the English pattern), but these were later reduced to one class, chevaux de pur sang Anglais (“horses of pure English blood”). The American Stud Book dates from 1897 and includes foals from Canada , Puerto Rico , and parts of Mexico , as well as from the United States .

The long-standing reciprocity among studbooks of various countries was broken in 1913 by the Jersey Act passed by the English Jockey Club, which disqualified many Thoroughbred horses bred outside England or Ireland . The purpose of the act was ostensibly to protect the British Thoroughbred from infusions of North American (mainly U.S.) sprinting blood. After a rash of victories in prestigious English races by French horses with “tainted” American ancestry in the 1940s, the Jersey Act was rescinded in 1949. Evolution of races Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies The original King’s Plates were standardized races—all were for six-year-old horses carrying 168 pounds at 4-mile heats, a horse having to win two heats to be adjudged the winner. Beginning in 1751, five-year-olds carrying 140 pounds (63.5 kg) and four-year-olds carrying 126 pounds (57 kg) were admitted to the King’s Plates, and heats were reduced to 2 miles (3.2 km).

Other racing for four-year-olds was well established by then, and a race for three-year-olds carrying 112 pounds (51 kg) in one 3-mile (4.8-km) heat was run in 1731. Heat racing for four-year-olds continued in the United States until the 1860s. By that time, heat racing had long since been overshadowed in Europe by dash racing, a “dash” being any race decided by only one heat, regardless of its distance. The modern age of racing The beginning of the modern era of racing is generally considered to have been the inauguration of the English classic races: the St. Leger in 1776, the Oaks in 1779, and the Derby in 1780. All were dashes for three-year-olds. To these races were later added the Two Thousand Guineas in 1809 and the One Thousand Guineas in 1814. (The St.

Leger, Derby, and Two Thousand Guineas have come to constitute the British Triple Crown of horse racing.) During the 19th century, races of the English classic pattern—dashes for three-year-olds carrying level weights—spread all over the world. The French classics are the Prix du Jockey Club (1836), the Grand Prix du Paris (1863), and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (1920). Willie Carson guiding Nashwan to win the Two Thousand Guineas in 1989. Sporting Pictures (UK) Ltd. The American classics are the Belmont Stakes (1867), the Preakness Stakes (1873), and the Kentucky Derby (1875), which make up the American Triple Crown . Since the establishment of the British and American Triple Crown series, scores of countries have instituted their own (less prestigious) Triple Crowns of elite races. Jockey clubs and racing authorities The Jockey Club of Britain , founded at Newmarket about 1750, wrote its own rules of racing.

In contrast to the earlier King’s Plates rules, these new rules took into account different kinds of contests involving horses of various ages and were thus more detailed. The new rules originally applied only to Newmarket, but, when the rules were printed in the Racing Calendar, they served as a model for rules throughout Britain. The Jockey Club later acquired the General Stud Book and came to control English racing in the 19th century. Its regulatory powers ended in 2006 when governance over British racing was transferred to the Horseracing Regulatory Authority. In 2007 power shifted to a new group, the British Horseracing Authority, which formed from a merger of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority and the British Horseracing Board. Trending Topics Eyjafjallajökull volcano France Galop is the organization governing French horse racing. The organization was created in 1995 from the merger of three horse racing authorities: the Société d’Encouragement et des Steeple-Chases de France, the Société de Sport de France, and the Société Sportive d’Encouragement. In the United States the governance of racing resides in state commissions; track operation is private.

The (North American) Jockey Club, founded in 1894 in New York , at one time exercised wide but not complete control of American racing. It maintains The American Stud Book. English racing spread to Australia , New Zealand , Canada, South Africa , and India in the 19th century, and many of their governing bodies emulated the British. Thousands of jockey clubs, both local and national, are today present around the world. Most of the national jockey clubs are members of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, whose annual conference in Paris reviews racing developments and discusses issues related to breeding, racing, and betting. The conference is hosted by the Jockey Club de Paris. Handicap racing One major type of Thoroughbred horse race is the handicap race, in which the weights horses must carry during a race are adjusted in relation to their age (the more immature the horse, the less weight it carries). In this system, a two-year-old, the youngest racer, competes with less weight to carry than a horse that is three years or older. In general, a horse is reckoned as being fully aged at five years and is handicapped accordingly.

There are also sex allowances for fillies, so that they carry slightly lower weights than males. Weight penalties or allowances are also provided on the basis of individual horses’ past performance. Such handicaps may be set centrally where racing is so controlled or by individual tracks, the goal being to render all horses as nearly equal as possible by establishing what is called racing form. The handicap race thus represents an outright repudiation of the classic concept that the best horse should win. Instead, handicaps are assigned with the specific objective of giving all the horses in a race an equal chance of winning. Some handicap races are major sporting events. For instance, the Melbourne Cup , a handicap inaugurated in 1861, is the most important race of the Southern Hemisphere. In the United States the Metropolitan, Brooklyn, and Suburban handicaps—all dating to the 19th century—were once the most valuable American events and remain reasonably comparable to the classics. The Santa Anita Handicap, first run in 1935, pioneered among such races with $100,000 or more purse value.

Purse money and stake fees Sponsored races in which much of the purse money is put up by commercial firms include the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Durban July. In the United States most of the purse money for the richest events (offering purses in the millions of dollars) is provided by the stakes fees of the owners. Purses were winner-take-all in the early days of racing, but, as the racing of fields of horses came to predominate, a second prize came to be offered. Gradually, third and fourth prizes were added and occasionally fifth. On the average, modern-day purses are allocated about 60 percent to the winner, 20 percent to the second-place finisher, 12 percent to the third, 6 percent to the fourth, and 2 percent to the fifth-place finisher. Wagers The same historical progression was followed for wagers, with the bets in early (two-horse) races being simply to win and modern bets being placed on the first three horses (win, place, and show).

From private bets, wagering was extended in the 19th century to bookmaking (a bookmaker is a professional bet accepter who tries to set his odds so that a percentage is working in his favour). Later in that century, betting was taken over worldwide by the racetrack managements in the form of the pari-mutuel . This is a common betting pool in which those who bet horses finishing in the first three places share the total amount bet minus a percentage for the management. The pari-mutuel was perfected with the introduction in the 20th century of the totalizator, a machine that mechanically records bets and can provide an almost instant reflection of betting in all pools. It displays the approximate odds to win on each horse and the total amount of wagering on each horse in each of various betting pools. The customary pools are win, place, and show, and there are such specialty wagers as the daily double (winners of the first two races), perfecta (win and place winners in order in one race), quiniela (as in the perfecta but not in order), and trifecta (win, place, and show winners in order in one race).

Other specialty wagers, sometimes offering extremely high payouts, require the bettor to select multiple trifectas, the winners of several races, or the first four horses in one race. As racing became big business, governments entered wagering with offtrack betting, which was very beneficial to racing in Australia, New Zealand, and France and less so in England and New York City. In the United States, illegal bookmaking offtrack became the province of organized crime. Legal offtrack betting parlours proliferated during the late 20th century but were less prevalent in the 21st because of the growth of online gambling and the general decline in horse racing’s popularity. Racing ages A racehorse achieves peak ability at age five, but the classic age of three years and the escalating size of purses, breeding fees, and sale prices have led to fewer races held with horses beyond age four. There are notable exceptions to this, however.

Famous races that admit horses older than three include the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini in Argentina , the Caulfield and Sydney cups in Australia, the Grande Prêmio São Paulo Internacional in Brazil , the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in England, the Gran Premio del Jockey Club and Gran Premio di Milano in Italy, the Emperor’s Cup and Arima Memorial in Japan , the Wellington Cup in New Zealand, the Durban July in South Africa, and the Gran Premio Clásico Simón Bolívar in Venezuela . Breeding theory and practice To be registered as a Thoroughbred, a foal must be the product of a “live cover,” meaning a witnessed natural mating of a stallion and a mare. Though artificial insemination and embryo transfer are possible and common in other horse breeds, it is banned with Thoroughbreds. The population of the breed is thereby controlled, assuring a high monetary value for the horses in the process. Because each foal is assigned an official birth date of January 1, to facilitate the age groups that define Thoroughbred races, it is important that mares foal as early as possible in the calendar year.

This assures maximum development time for the foal before training and racing. The guiding principle for breeding winning racehorses has always been best expressed as “breed the best to the best and hope for the best.” The performance of a breeding horse’s progeny is the real test, but, for horses untried at stud, the qualifications are pedigree, racing ability, and physical conformation. What breeders learned early in the history of horse racing is that crossing bloodlines can potentially overcome flaws in horses. If, for example, one breed is known for stamina and another known for speed, interbreeding the two might result in a healthy mix of both qualities in their offspring. Racecourses The ownership of racetracks ranges from complete state control, in which case the national government may own the tracks and horses and employ trainers, jockeys, grooms, and other necessary personnel, to complete private enterprise, as in most of the United States, where tracks are privately owned and operated for profit, as are the horses, and trainers and jockeys are independent contractors. In-between conditions include government ownership of tracks and in some cases horses, which are leased, and nonprofit privately owned tracks, as in Australia and the New York Racing Association.

Horse racing at the Galway Race Course, Ballybrit, County Galway, Connaught (Connacht), Ireland. Nutan/Tourism Ireland Racetrack stands range from the elegant (Longchamp in France, Ascot in England) to the modest and purely functional (Cologne, the Curragh in Ireland). The same variety is true of the saddling area, the paddock. Most European and other racing surfaces are grass; in North and South America the common surface is dirt, though grass became increasingly popular in the 20th century. Synthetic racing surfaces, which routinely drain better than natural surfaces and cause fewer fatal injuries, were increasingly installed at racetracks during the 21st century. Racing takes place mainly in the daytime. Older racetracks, mainly European, conform to natural terrain, accommodations for spectators having been added later. The course at Newmarket , for example, can accommodate a race of 2.25 miles (3.6 km) with a gentle change of direction of less than 90 degrees, but spectators cannot see all the race. Newer tracks are elliptical 1-mile- (1.6-km-) long tracks.

Racing procedure The eligibility of racers is checked the day before they are raced. Before the race, jockeys weigh out and report to the paddock for instructions by trainers and mount up, the identity of the horses having been checked. Horses and riders proceed to the track in a parade to the post for the stewards ’ (race officials’) inspection and a brief warm-up gallop. Horses are almost universally started from electrically operated starting gates, the horses being walked or led into their stalls prior to the start of the race. The starter actuates the upward swing of the barrier from the stalls when all are in place. During the race, stewards and patrol judges are alert for racing violations, supplemented by a motion-picture patrol. The finish is photographed by a special camera, and, when the race is close, the picture is awaited before winners are announced. The race’s result does not become official until the jockeys have weighed in and the riders of horses that finished in the money are certified to have carried the proper weight. At weighing in, a jockey, owner, or trainer may claim foul against a horse that interfered with his mount.

The judgment of the stewards may result in a horse being lowered in order of finish from first to last. The stewards declare the race official, and then payoffs are flashed on the totalizator. Postrace urine tests are made of winning horses and a sample of the field, and if results show the presence of forbidden substances, the results may be changed on payment of purses but not on bets. Most time records are clustered in North America, where speed has long been a desideratum. Races in the United States are timed to 1/5 of a second, as opposed to 1/100 of a second elsewhere. Racing silks Colourful racing silks are a familiar element of horse racing, and their introduction dates to the formal organization of the sport in the 18th century. Though they primarily serve an aesthetic purpose in the modern sport, their original use in racing was to allow spectators to distinguish one horse from another during races in an age before television and public-address systems. To this day horse owners must register a unique pattern and set of colours (worn on the jockey’s jacket and helmet cover) with a regulatory board.

Racing strategy The earliest American racecourses were typically straight quarter-mile sprints. For these short distances, American jockeys developed a style of riding involving a short stirrup and a crouching posture—this “ American seat ” eventually became standard worldwide for all distances. As longer, elliptical racetracks were built in New York and throughout the South, a greater onus was placed on jockeys to pace their horses. Because Thoroughbred horses are capable of running only about a quarter of a mile at top speed, determining what pace to set and when to unleash this burst of speed is crucial to winning. The American jockey Isaac Murphy was famous in the 1880s and ’90s for his “grandstand finishes.” Training The training of racehorses, simply expressed, is maintaining a horse in the best condition to run. Exercise and feeding programs and knowledge of the individual horse are factors involved. A good trainer selects a jockey who suits the horse and, perhaps more important, enters the horse in suitable races.

A trainer of a horse for a classic race not only must develop the horse into peak condition but must time the development so that the horse reaches its peak on a certain day, which is the most difficult art of all. The state of racing In America, interest in horse racing exploded after the Civil War . By 1890 there were 314 racetracks, operating in nearly every state. Incensed, antigambling coalitions pushed through legislation in most parts of the country, and by 1908 only 25 racetracks remained in operation. Finally, even New York racetracks were shut down in 1911 when state legislation outlawed quoting of odds, soliciting bets, and recording bets in a fixed place. In response, many owners, trainers, and jockeys shifted their operations to Europe. When New York racetracks reopened in 1913, most of the earlier African American jockeys never returned.

Barbaro, ridden by Edgar Prado, racing across the finish line to win the 132nd Kentucky Derby at … Al Behrman/AP During the late 1920s and the ’30s racetracks became an important source of tax revenue, and by the second half of the 20th century horse racing had become big business. Fields regularly numbered a dozen or more. Once race meetings lasted a day or two, later a week or two, and today, particularly where climate allows, races may be scheduled for half the year or more. More racing dates require more horses, and horses are raced more intensively. Purses grew, particularly after World War II . In 1981 a new American race, the Arlington Million (run at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights , Illinois , outside of Chicago ), was the first million-dollar race. Purses routinely topped this amount in the 21st century, growing to greater than $10 million for certain high-profile races. Where there is gambling, there is cheating, and the history of racing repeats itself with recurrent race fixing and running of ringers.

A new threat to the sport arose in the 1960s with the widespread use of anti-inflammatory and coagulant drugs on horses. Various racing bodies limited or forbade the use of such drugs; others did not. Over-racing, particularly in the United States, encouraged their use, and both legal and illegal drug use may explain the higher death rate among American racehorses. (The U.S. Jockey Club reported that about 600 horses died racing-related deaths on U.S. racetracks in 2006, a significantly larger number than those recorded in other countries.) The use of steroids on horses, like their use by star athletes in many sports, came under particular scrutiny in the late 20th century. Animal rights organizations have long criticized horse racing. Activists have sought to expose horse doping, institute a ban on horse whipping by jockeys, limit the number of races a horse (especially three years old and younger) can run in a season, and eliminate dirt tracks in favour of safer synthetic surfaces.

Two notable tragedies in the early 21st century helped propel calls for reform: the shattering of bones in one of Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro’s legs just seconds after the start of the Preakness Stakes in 2006 (the horse was euthanized eight months later) and the death of three horses during production of the TV series Luck (2011–12), a drama about horse racing. (The deaths and subsequent outcry among many viewers helped lead to the abrupt cancellation of the show after just one season.) Such events—augmented by the changing interests of the global sporting public—contributed to the continuing decline in the popularity of horse racing through the first decades of the 21st century. Horse of the Year winners Winners of the Horse of the Year award are listed in the table. Horse of the Year Ireland and the Thoroughbred | Features | BloodHorse.com Ireland and the Thoroughbred Investing September 1, 2015 Irish mythology is replete with references to the horse and its importance to heroes and historical figures.

While it is believed that chariot races took place on the plains of the Curragh as far back as the third century, the first documented evidence of horse racing is a royal warrant from 1603 entitling the governor of Derry to hold fairs and markets at which horse races could be staged. This longtime association between man and beast, however, goes far beyond mere racing. The horse is integral to Irish culture, interwoven into daily living. To the rural Irishman especially, the horse has been a constant pivot in a centuries-old way of life. The horse is often cited in Irish art, poetry, and film, prominent in the literary works of iconic Irishmen from Samuel Beckett and W.B. Yeats to Jim Sheridan and Roddy Doyle. “There where the course is, Delight makes all of the one mind, The riders upon the galloping horses, The crowd that closes in behind,” Yeats once penned. But much more than merely providing sporting entertainment, the horse has historically been the Irishman’s partner—his worker on the land. Patrick McCann In Ireland today there are more horses per head of population than in any other country in Europe.

Many of the fairs and shows that take place have origins so deeply embedded in history that nobody knows their genesis. Much like Ireland’s relationship with the horse — we are not quite sure when it began or why, we just know it did. Tourism Ireland Perhaps in these mystic origins lies the root of the Irish people’s affinity with the horse. They have developed a unique understanding of the animal, an understanding passed from generation to generation. This relationship has fused through time to form the bond of mutual dependency that exists today. It’s an Irish thing. Patrick McCann Breeding in Ireland Ireland is a nation of horse breeders—from the farmer with two mares who produces a couple of horses as a hobby, to some of the most commercially successful Thoroughbred operations in the world. The Emerald Isle was also home of the Byerley Turk, one of three foundation stallions who shaped the modern Thoroughbred. Peter Mooney Ireland is blessed with the perfect environment for breeding horses. The soil, heavy in limestone, provides calcium-rich grass, essential for health and strength of bone in growing foals. The temperate climate—not too cold in the winter nor too hot in the summer—provides plenty of rain and daylight.

Then the famous Irish horsemanship skills ensure young horses receive the best care and attention as they grow and mature. Coolmore Stud Fiscal measures introduced in the late 1960s and early 1970s allow Ireland to compete on the global bloodstock stage. These measures prompted visionaries such as Coolmore kingpin John Magnier—assisted by Dr. Vincent O’Brien’s legendary judgement and Robert Sangster’s financial backing—to acquire well-bred yearlings from around the world, a plan that facilitated the ultimate objective of having some of the best Thoroughbred stallions stand in Ireland. Coolmore Stud The Irish formula for success: Combine the best broodmares with the best stallions, entrust their foals to an Irish-horsemanship education, and raise them in a temperate climate on limestone-enriched pastures. Is it any wonder then that some of the best racehorses in the world are Irish-breds?

Peter Mooney Ireland is home for many of the world’s leading breeders—Coolmore, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Darley, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Derrinstown Stud, HH the Aga Khan’s Studs, The Haefner family’s Moyglare Stud, and Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms. Darley’s Kildangan Stud (above) is home to 10 stallions including leading sire Shamardal. Kildangan Stud Many of the world’s leading sires stand in Ireland, headed by Coolmore’s outstanding Galileo (IRE) (above), sire of many multiple champions and important sons such as Frankel, New Approach (IRE), and Rip Van Winkle (IRE) standing at stud. Coolmore Stud is now home to five Epsom Derby winners. Coolmore Stud The Irish National Stud belongs to the people of Ireland. It has been home to some of the most successful stallions in Ireland, including Invincible Spirit (IRE), who also has numerous sons at stud. Irish National Stud Gilltown Stud, the Aga Khan’s public stud in Ireland, is home to champion Sea The Stars (IRE).

Patrick McCann Commercial family-run farms are the core of Irish breeding with Ballyhane Stud (above), Morristown Lattin Stud, Rathasker Stud, Rathbarry Stud, and Tally-Ho Stud recognized as some of the leading breeders and consignors. Jennifer O'Sullivan Sales in Ireland Ireland’s bloodstock sales have long been a source of top-quality Thoroughbreds. There are three bloodstock sales companies in Ireland: Goffs, Tattersalls Ireland, and Goresbridge. Caroline Norris Located in the very heart of the Irish racing and breeding industry, Goffs has established a worldwide reputation built on the success of the top-class horses it sells and its quality service. The company holds eight bloodstock sales a year, including the Orby (Ireland’s premier flat yearling sale) and the Premier Breeding Stock and Foal Sale, which takes place in November. F Stop Press Tattersalls Ireland, particularly renowned for selling top-class National Hunt horses, also sells quality horses for the flat. The September Yearling Sale consistently provides excellent value and success for flat-bred yearlings, its graduates having reached the highest echelons.

Caroline Norris Situated on the banks of the River Barrow in County Kilkenny, Goresbridge has been run by the Donohoe family since its establishment in 1968. In May, Goresbridge Bloodstock Sales offers Ireland’s only flat breeze up sale. Amy Lynam Irish Thoroughbred Marketing is the first point of contact for overseas people seeking information on the Irish Bloodstock Industry. ITM exists to make coming to Ireland as straightforward as possible and provides a wide range of services: organizing full itineraries, scheduling exclusive trainer and stud visits, and booking hotel accommodations at reduced rates. ITM can even offer financial assistance with the travel expenses of buyers shopping for Irish bloodstock through the Inward Buyer Programme. ITM will contribute €800 to any U.S. buyers who purchase at the sales or privately. Racing in Ireland In addition to its first-class breeding industry, Ireland also boasts a thriving racing industry, and a visit to the Emerald Isle is not complete without a trip to one of the 26 racecourses.

There is one all-weather track at Dundalk, which stages a flat winter championship, and nearby Laytown provides a particularly unique once-a-year experience, the unforgettable spectacle of racing on the beach. Patrick McCann The remainder of Ireland’s racecourses run on turf, each with its own unique terrain, atmosphere, and charm. The historic Curragh Racecourse is racing’s headquarters and home to all five Irish Classics. The Curragh training grounds have been developed into a world-renowned training centre. Patrick McCann People from all walks of life have supported Irish racing through the years, with many owners choosing to have their horses trained by internationally acclaimed Irish trainers. From Cheltenham to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I), to the Melbourne Cup (Aus-I), Irish-bred and -trained Thoroughbreds continue to define the word “excellence” on a world stage. Healy Racing Richard “Boss” Croker, originally an Irish-American politician, returned to Ireland and set up a training operation at Glencairn Estate.

He conditioned the first Irish-trained horse to win the English Derby, Orby (right), who took the storied event in 1907. His endeavors so raised the spirits of the Irish people that Orby was paraded through the streets of Dublin to cheering crowds. In the same year he became the first horse to complete the English-Irish Derby double. Nearly 50 years passed before another Irish horse — Joe McGrath’s Arctic Prince — won the Epsom Derby in 1951. Croker was made a Freeman of the City of Dublin, an accolade given to the likes of George Bernard Shaw, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton. Irish Thoroughbred Marketing/The Irish Field Trainer Vincent O’Brien (right) continually raised the bar of Irish racing throughout his career. Breaking one record after another, he dominated both the worlds of jumps and flat racing. He trained six Epsom Derby winners, was twice British champion trainer, won three editions of the Grand National in succession, and trained the only British Triple Crown winner since World War II. Readers of the Racing Post voted him the greatest, most influential racing figure of all time. O’Brien died in 2009 at age 92.

Coolmore Stud During the 1970s O’Brien (left) and owner Robert Sangster (right), along with O’Brien’s son-in-law John Magnier, established the genesis of the Coolmore syndicate. O’Brien’s incredible gift for picking world-class horses paired with Magnier’s business mind propelled Coolmore Stud to the pinnacle of the racing world. O’Brien’s pioneering in the art and science of training transformed what was essentially a Tipperary farm into the world-class training establishment, Ballydoyle. On the flat O’Brien trained such legendary racehorses as Ballymoss, Gladness, Sir Ivor, Roberto, The Minstrel, Alleged, Storm Bird, El Gran Senor, Royal Academy, Sadler’s Wells (arguably the greatest stallion in modern turf history), and Nijinsky II. Coolmore Stud Owned by American businessman Charles W.

Engelhard Jr., Nijinsky II had the speed to win the 2,000 Guineas over a mile, the pace and the temperament to take the English Derby over a mile and a half, and the stamina to excel in the St Leger over an extended mile and six furlongs in 1970, becoming the first horse in 35 years to win the English Triple Crown. No horse has done so since. O’Brien claimed the son of Northern Dancer, unbeaten in five runs as a juvenile, to be the best horse he ever trained. Coolmore Stud Sadler’s Wells (above), also trained by Vincent O’Brien, was a top-class racehorse who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas (Ire-I), Eclipse Stakes (Eng-I), and the Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I)—but his place in racing history is as one of the most influential stallions of modern times. He was champion sire in the UK and Ireland on no fewer than 14 occasions. Coolmore’s former resident died in 2011 at age 30.

His illustrious progeny include Montjeu (IRE), Galileo (IRE), High Chaparral (IRE), Yeats (IRE), and Barathea (IRE). Courtesy of Coolmore Turn the clock forward: Aidan O’Brien has defied all conventions and (like his non-related namesake Vincent) reached the top echelons in both jumps and flat racing since he took out his training license in 1993. As his frequent 1-2-3 finishes in the Irish Derby and numerous other group I wins demonstrate, he is simply a genius. To date, O’Brien has been champion trainer in Ireland 17 times and four times in Britain. O’Brien trainees include, Galileo (IRE), High Chaparral (IRE), Dylan Thomas (IRE), Giant’s Causeway, Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), St Nicholas Abbey (IRE), Yeats (IRE), Henrythenavigator, Mastercraftsman (IRE), a litany of top-class horses that seemingly never ends. Further afield, O’Brien has won both the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington International and the W.S. Cox Plate (Aus-I) in Australia with Adelaide (IRE).

He twice has taken the Arlington Million Stakes (gr. IT): Powerscourt in 2005 and Cape Blanco (IRE) in 2011. In addition, Cape Blanco (IRE) captured the Man o’ War Stakes (gr. IT) and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park. O’Brien has an impressive eight Breeders’ Cup races on his resume. Only recently O’Brien won the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) with Highland Reel (IRE). Caroline Norris A contemporary of Vincent O’Brien, Irish trainer, Paddy ‘Darkie’ Prendergast (left), also made a name for himself, becoming the first non-British-based trainer to be champion in Great Britain for three consecutive seasons (1963-65). Quartered on the Curragh, the centre of flat racing in Ireland, he was especially gifted at training 2-year-olds. His two best horses during an illustrious career were Ragusa and Irish-bred Meadow Court, both winners of the Irish Derby and the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The Irish Field The Weld name has had a long association with the Curragh.

Charlie Weld established himself as a top-class trainer at Rosewell House before his son Dermot (above) took the reins in 1972. With the famous yard located just metres from the entrance to the Curragh racecourse, the younger Weld has consistently been one of Ireland’s most successful trainers, with multiple Irish trainer’s championships. Acclaimed as one of the best trainers in the world, he has saddled big-race winners on four continents. Trained by Dermot Weld for Michael Smurfit, Vintage Crop was first campaigned in the National Hunt code, winning two novice hurdles in his first season. Weld then switched him to the flat, and he won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket at 5. The following year he landed the first of two consecutive victories in the Irish St Leger and made history by becoming the first overseas-trained winner of Australia’s Melbourne Cup, the race that stops a nation. He won 16 races from 28 starts and finished out of the top three only six times. He lived out his retirement as part of the Living Legends attraction at the Irish National stud, passing away in 2014 at the age of 27.

Patrick McCann Trained by Dermot Weld for owner/breeder Moyglare Stud, Go and Go (IRE) is the only European-trained horse to win a leg of the American Triple Crown after springing a surprise victory in the 1990 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). After breaking his maiden at Galway at 2, Irish-bred Go and Go went on to win the Laurel Futurity Stakes (gr. II) at Laurel Park later that season, his initial start on a dirt surface. The Irish Field With a reputation for unrivaled patience with horses and an admirable tendency not to over race them, John Oxx, has developed into one of Ireland’s most respected and successful trainers. When HH Aga Khan decided to transfer horses to Ireland in 1990, Oxx became the sole trainer. Notable winners for the partnership include Timarida (IRE), Ebadiyla (IRE), Sinndar (IRE), Alamshar (IRE), and Azamour (IRE). Oxx was also the trainer of the outstanding globe-trotting filly, Ridgewood Pearl (IRE); however, he will be best remembered for world champion racehorse Sea The Stars (IRE).

Patrick McCann Exceptionally well-bred Sea The Stars (IRE) is a half brother to the multiple champion sire Galileo (IRE). After winning the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket (Eng-I), Sea The Stars (IRE) carved his name into the annals of history with six consecutive group I triumphs, becoming the only horse to complete the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby (Eng-I), and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe treble. The son of Cape Cross (IRE), out of the brilliant Urban Sea, dominated the 2009 flat season, becoming world champion and sealing his place amongst the all-time greats. Edward Whitaker Jim Bolger (left) has enjoyed tremendous success as a trainer since taking out his license in the late 1970s and is adept at finding the very best in his racehorses. Top class horses trained by Bolger include New Approach (IRE), Dawn Approach (IRE), and Pleascach (IRE), winner of this year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas (Ire-I) and Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-I).

Bolger also won the Hong Kong Cup (HK-I) with Alexander Goldrun (IRE). Winning the Irish Derby (Ire-I) with homebred Trading Leather (IRE) (above) was a truly remarkable day for the Bolger family as they also bred and raced his sire Teofilo (IRE). Patrick McCann Eddie Lynam achieved remarkable success in 2014. His three winners from four runners at the Royal Ascot meeting centered around group I successes with star sprinters Sole Power and Slade Power (IRE) (above). That pair claimed four of the five group I sprints in the UK during the year. Slade Power (IRE) retired to stand at Darley’s Kildangan Stud at the end of the season. The now 8-year-old Sole Power is still going strong, having won the Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-I) at the Dubai World Cup meeting in Meydan in March 2015. Cranhamphoto.com Tom Hogan trained a €2,000 purchase in Gordon Lord Byron (IRE) to win group I races in Australia, France, and Britain.

There is an abundance of top-class trainers in Ireland, and they continue to compete at the highest level both at home and abroad. Alain Barr Investing in Ireland In recent times Ireland has become an investment hub for American breeders and owners. It made sense that Team Valor International should purchase First Cornerstone (IRE) after the Andy Oliver-trained colt sprang a 33-1 shock in a listed race at Tipperary in August 2012. The American operation, founded by Barry Irwin (above) and Jeff Siegel, is a truly international organization, searching out the best equine talent around the globe. Anne M. Eberhardt Team Valor International’s loyalty to trainer Andy Oliver has been well rewarded. Panama Hat, for example, progressed significantly last season. A winless, 60-rated handicapper at the start of 2014, the winner of five races on the bounce ended the season basking in a mark of 110.

This year he was beaten a half-length by Aidan O’Brien’s Kingfisher (IRE)—runner-up in the Ascot Gold Cup (Eng-I)—in the listed Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown in June, before going on to win a listed race at Roscommon in early July. On Aug. 15 he was a good second to Lucky Speed (IRE) while making his North American debut in the $350,000 American St. Leger Stakes (gr. IIIT). Caroline Norris American billionaire John Malone bought Humewood Castle in County Wicklow for €8 million in 2012, then proceeded to purchase four hotels in post-recession Ireland. In 2014 Malone’s interest in Ireland and his interest in bloodstock fused when he bought Ballylinch Stud in County Kilkenny. Founded by Major Dermot McCalmont, Ballylinch has been a leading player in the Irish bloodstock industry ever since McCalmont stood The Tetrarch—unbeaten in seven runs as a 2-year-old—there as a stallion in 1914. “As small as it is, Ireland is a place where things work,” Malone said.

“When you look across places outside the U.S. where you feel comfortable investing as a U.S. citizen, Ireland comes top.” Ballylinch Stud Brad Kelley’s Calumet Farm had its first horses in training in Ireland in 2014. The billionaire who is the fourth-largest landowner in the U.S. now has more than 20 horses in training with the legendary Dermot Weld. Calumet runners in Ireland also carry Kelley’s black silks with gold chevrons. Ireland is the only destination in Europe where Calumet Farm stands stallions. Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow (IRE) now stands at Knockhouse Stud in Co. Kilkenny. Calumet chose the Irish National Stud to stand Melbourne Cup winner Americain in 2015. “We want to have our success on the track feed into having a nice, viable, commercial stallion division,” Ken Wilkins, director of the farm’s stallion division, told BloodHorse.com.

“Hopefully, that will be a very strong tool for us.” Patrick McCann The Ardbraccan Estate in Navan in County Meath, near the east coast of Ireland, was built in the mid-1700s as a palace for the bishops of Meath. About 350 years later, American Charles Noell bought it. In 1992 Noell and computer specialist John Moores, one of Forbes magazine’s 400 richest people in America, co-founded JMI Equity, an investment firm specialising in software. In 2013, after the death of one of the principal owners of County Limerick farm Kilfrush Stud, Noell and Moores teamed up to buy the stud’s bloodstock, collecting more than 30 horses of various ages under their banner of Merriebelle Irish Farm. In 2013 Merriebelle in partnership with Dr. Ronan Lambe raced Pale Mimosa (IRE) (above) to victory in the group II Lonsdale Cup.

Patrick McCann Frank Stronach, the owner of Adena Springs who has received every breeding accolade possible, also recognizes that Ireland is a premier country in which to race horses and has several horses in training with Dermot Weld. In that same vein Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey now have horses in training in Ireland. Wally Skalij Ireland has been the base for many international investors. British businessman Robert Sangster dominated through the 1970s and 1980s as an owner, teaming with John Magnier and Vincent O’Brien. In recent time the Ballydoyle triumvirate of Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith have been all conquering. Caroline Norris Godolphin supremo HH Sheikh Mohammed has been a huge supporter of Irish racing with more than 60 horses in training in Ireland. In 1986 he purchased Kildangan Stud, which is now home to such stallions as Dawn Approach (IRE), Cape Cross (IRE), and Raven’s Pass. Edward Whitaker The Al Thani family of Qatar are other relatively new entrants to the Irish racing scene. The Al Thanis have many youngsters in training here and are prolific buyers at Goffs sales.

In addition, Sheikh Fahad Al Thani (above) recently purchased a stud farm in Limerick on behalf of Qatar Racing to raise and nurture their stock. Never has the time been better to invest in Ireland with land costs now stabilized and at more affordable levels, 38% down from prices at the peak of the economic boom. The national average recorded for 2014 is €10,526 per acre, excluding land parcels of less than 20 acres. Killarney Racecourse The economic slump in Ireland has created a buyers’ market. Significantly, the major breeding operations of Darley, Derrinstown, and Coolmore have continued to increase their land banks during the period of the downturn in property prices. Historically, through times of recession the greatest return on investment has been seen in the larger land banks and stud farms. Kildangan Stud At the height of the market in Ireland, ready-made stud farms were selling for up to €80,000 per acre; today they are trading anywhere between €17,000 and €27,000 per acre.

These figures are for fully completed stud farms, located in regions known for their association with and suitability for bloodstock. Ballylinch Stud The Irish government is supportive of the sector and realizes the importance of the industry to the Irish economy. There is a suitable tax structure, from acquisitions straight through to the running and management of a stud farm, with favorable employment laws. A favorable exchange rate in 2015 finds the U.S. dollar at an all-time best against the euro with the dollar forecast to hit further highs versus the euro. Peter Mooney Ireland and the horse—a relationship with no beginning and no end. It simply always has been. Amy Lynam

Question: In horse racing, at which racecourse are all five of the Irish Classics held?
Answer: CURRAGH