Dermot K. Weld (born 29 July 1948), in Kildare, is a former jockey, and one of Ireland's most successful racehorse trainers, setting the record in 2000 for the most winners trained in Ireland with 2,578. He won the Irish Flat Training Championship 8 times in 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1998. As a trainer, he won the Melbourne Cup in Australia twice, all five of the Irish Classics, the Epsom Derby and Oaks, the Hong Kong Mile, Italian and American Derby, and Breeders' Cup Turf.
Educated at Newbridge College, became a qualified veterinarian (UCD 1970) and at that time, the youngest qualified vet in Ireland. [2] In 2016, Weld was awarded UCD Alumnus of the Year in Veterinary Medicine. [2]
Weld started his career as an amateur jockey, [2] obtaining a training licence in 1972, [1] and took over the stable, at Rosewell House, in Curragh, Ireland, from his father, Charlie Weld, who was also a successful racehorse trainer. [2] [1] He went on to win the Irish Flat Training Championship 8 times in 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998. [3]
He set a new record for the most winners trained in Ireland with 2,578 in August 2000, holding the record until Willie Mullins overtook it in May 2024. [4]
He was played by Brendan Gleeson in the feature film The Cup (2011). [5]
During his training career, he has saddled over 4000 winners (to 2016). [1]
