Much as the locals love National Hunt action, horse racing in Ireland does not come much bigger than the Irish Classics. These prestigious races have been wowing crowds for over a century and represent some of the most highly anticipated events on the flat racing calendar. The Curragh, one of Ireland’s most iconic racecourses, has the privilege of hosting all five Classics, which take place between May and September each year.
What Are The Irish Classic Races?
The Irish Classics mirror the British Classics and each has the same name apart from the ‘Irish’ prefix. Qualification rules are the same across races except the St Leger. The Irish version is open to three-year-olds and above (not just strictly three-year-olds) as well as geldings. No other Classics, either side of the border, are available to geldings.
Race | When | Distance | First Run |
---|---|---|---|
Irish 1,000 Guineas | May | 1m | 1922 |
Irish 2,000 Guineas | May | 1m | 1921 |
Irish Derby | Late June/Early July | 1m 4f | 1866 |
Irish Oaks | July | 1m 4f | 1895 |
Irish St Leger | September | 1m 6f | 1915 |
As you would expect, each race holds Group 1 status, the highest classification for a flat horse race. None of the Irish contests, which all take place at The Curragh, are as old as their British equivalents but they still have a rich history behind them. Now, let us look at each Irish Classic race in a little more detail.
Irish 1,000 Guineas
- Qualification – Three-year-old fillies
- Purse – €500,000 (2024)
- Leading Trainer – Aiden O’Brien (10 wins)
With this race usually scheduled three weeks after the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, it is not unusual to see some top fillies given a shot in both. This has led to the likes of Hermosa (2019) and Winter (2017) winning both events. Any filly performing well in the Irish 1,000 Guineas is well worth keeping your eye on as it is a very tough race to impress in. Some runners end up competing in the following month’s Coronation Stakes at Ascot, such as Tahiyra (2023), the latest horse to win both contests.
Irish 2,000 Guineas
- Qualification – Three-year-olds
- Purse – €500,000 (2024)
- Leading Trainer – Aiden O’Brien (12 wins)
Although open to fillies, who are awarded a 3lb allowance, this is usually a battle exclusively between three-year-old colts. Effectively the male version of the 2,000 Guineas, it offers the same purse and takes place on the same right-handed course at the Curragh. Top performers in the Irish 2,000 Guineas are often prepped for the St James’s Palace Stakes which is scheduled for the following month. Seeing a colt win both races is not an unusual sight and it’s a feat recently managed by both Paddington (2023) and Rosallion (2024).
Irish Derby
- Qualification – Three-year-olds
- Purse – €1,249,999 (2024)
- Leading Trainer – Aiden O’Brien (16 wins)
This is the oldest of the Irish classics, which enjoyed its inaugural appearance almost 160 years ago. For many decades, it did not carry a great deal of prestige but a large increase in prize money during the 1960s saw it attract far more attention. Since this point, the Irish Derby has been a fairly regular target for Epsom Derby winners. 19 horses have secured the English-Irish Derby double, most recently Auguste Rodin in 2023.
Irish Oaks
- Qualification – Three-year-old fillies
- Purse – €500,000 (2024)
- Leading Trainer – Aiden O’Brien (7 wins)
Along with the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Irish Oaks is the other Classic restricted to fillies. While the British Derby and Oaks take place during the same two-day festival, the Irish Oaks usually runs a few weeks after the Irish Derby. There have been some fascinating renewals of this top-class event since its creation in 1895. In 1978, Sorbus was stripped of a win following a stewards’ inquiry while a decade later Diminuendo and Melodist both claimed a dead-heat victory.
Irish St Leger
- Qualification – Three-year-olds and up
- Purse – €600,000 (2024)
- Leading Trainers – Vicent O’Brien and Dermot Weld (9 wins)
The St Leger is the only Irish Classic that does not have Aidan O’Brien as the leading trainer, although he is not too far behind with seven wins. It is the longest of the Classics too, forcing hopeful horses to compete over a distance of one mile and six furlongs. Originally the contest was restricted to three-year-olds but it became an open-age race in 1983. This created the possibility of repeat winners and Vinnie Roe took full advantage. In an incredible feat, the 2002 European Champion Stayer won this contest four consecutive times starting in 2001.