by Annalou Mack

Created on: March 17, 2009   Last Updated: March 20, 2009

In order to get a feel for how the Irish had an influence on horse racing it is necessary to look at how it developed in Ireland. According to legend, horse racing was invented by the pirates of Newgrange in Galway to entertain the Fianna, a group who protected the high king of Ireland. Others believe horse racing began with the chariot races in the third century A. D.

Wherever there were two owners of horses any where there was bound to be a horse race. This was a favorite pastime of horsemen in Ireland, as in America. Through the years it remained as local entertainment at fairs and celebrations. In 1790, The Turf Club, the formal organization overseeing racing in Ireland today, was founded and became the owner of The Curragh Racecourse, the headquarters of flat racing in Ireland. The American Jockey Club was founded along similar lines as the Turf Club.

Horse racing went through many ups and downs in Ireland. In 1791 it was prohibited in the vicinity of Dublin and in 1798, the Curragh races were cancelled because of the upheaval in Ireland. The Curragh was visited by King George IV in 1821 when he presented a trophy, the Royal Whip, whose handle was decorated with gold shamrocks. In the late 1840s the Great Potato Famine settled on Ireland, depleting the economy and causing widespread starvation. Racing didn't recover from these effects until near the end of the 19 th century.

A great influence on the recovery of horse racing in Ireland was Richard Eyre "Boss" Croker. He was of Irish ancestry but had grown up in New York City and became a power in Tammany Hall. He returned to Ireland to develop a successful stud, which he did. His horse Orby won the prestigious English Epson Derby much to the excitement of Ireland.

In looking at how horse racing developed in America and in Ireland, we see it was similar and yet different from British horse racing. Ireland's influence on the world of horse racing is held in high regard. Not to be forgotten are some of the great race horses bred in Ireland who impacted racing in the U S. One of the greatest being Sadler's Wells. His offspring have won a record six Breeders Cup events and his son, El Prado was the 2002 leading sire. Another offspring, Go and Go was a Belmont Stakes winner and Black Tie Affair was U S Horse of the Year. Irish bred, Tetrarch, is in the pedigree of Triple Crown winner Count Fleet and of Swaps and Nashua. Kentucky Derby winner Bold Forbes was the grandson of Tulyar, an Irish horse racing winner.

All race horses need trainers. Irishman Dermot Weld has earned world renown with the top race horses he has trained. He is the only European trainer to win one race of the American Triple Crown when Go and Go won the 1990 Belmont Stakes. In years since, he can boast of American race wins with Pine Dance, Dimitrova and Jazz Beat.

There is no doubt that the Irish have had enormous influence on the world of horse racing through its horses, trainers, jockeys and breeders. The name of Ireland is sure to come up wherever horse racing people get together.

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