Arkle was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. A bay gelding by Archive out of Bright Cherry, he was the grandson of the unbeaten flat racehorse and prepotent sire Nearco. Arkle was born at Ballymacoll Stud, County Meath, and bred by Mrs Mary Alison Baker of Malahow House, near Naul, County Dublin. He was named after the mountain Arkle in Sutherland, Scotland that bordered the Duchess of Westminster’s Sutherland estate. Owned by Anne Grosvenor, Duchess of Westminster, he was trained by Tom Dreaper at Greenogue, Kilsallaghan in County Meath, Ireland, and ridden during his steeplechasing career by Pat Taaffe.
The Irish Grand National is a National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs, and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year on Easter Monday.
Gowran is a town located on the eastern side of County Kilkenny, Ireland. The historic St. Mary's Collegiate Church is located in the centre of Gowran close to Gowran Castle. Gowran Park race course and Golf Course is located one km from the centre of Gowran. Gowran is located on the R448 regional road where it is crossed by the R702 regional road.
Hurricane Run (2002–2016) was a world champion Irish-bred thoroughbred racehorse. He was the second French-trained horse, after his sire Montjeu to win both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Hedgehunter is an Irish race horse, who won the 2005 Grand National steeplechase, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins. He had fallen at the final fence the previous year when well placed. He then finished second in 2006 to Numbersixvalverde. He also finished second in the 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup to War of Attrition. The horse is owned by Lancashire millionaire Trevor Hemmings who also owned Blackpool Tower.
The Tetrarch (1911–1935) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He was undefeated in a racing career of seven starts and was voted the best British-trained two-year-old of the 20th century according to the National Horseracing Museum. He did not race after 1913 and was retired to stud where he became an influential sire.
Flyingbolt was a famous racehorse. Officially he is the second best National Hunt racehorse of all time, after Arkle. A comparison of their merits is probably best illustrated by the Official Steeplechase Handicapper, who at the end of the 1965-1966 season rated Arkle the superior by only 1 lb (0.5 kg). Timeform, the highly respected racing publication, had a difference of 2 lbs between them. As a hurdler, Flyingbolt was the best Tom Dreaper ever trained. His wins included the Gloucestershire Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Scalp Hurdle at Leopardstown. He also finished third in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Flyingbolt and Arkle never raced against one another, mainly because they were trained by the same man and he preferred to keep them apart.
Gowran Park is a horse race course in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the Annely Estate near the village of Gowran.The first meeting was held in 1914. and the first ever racecourse commentary in Ireland took place here in 1952.
The Denny Cordell Lavarack Fillies Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Gowran Park over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 100 yards, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September.
The Arkle Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong, and during its running there are eleven fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late January.
Davy Condon is an Irish National hunt racing jockey in Great Britain and Ireland. Condon’s father, Michael Condon, was an amateur jockey. His father rode for Jimmy Murphy and Charles Byrnes, but a fall that left him in a coma cut his career short with just one win to his credit. His grandfather, Gerry Townend, was also a notable amateur jockey. Condon retired in 2015 after a spinal injury.
Turtle Island was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was one of the leading British two-year-olds of 1993 when he won four of his seven races including the Norfolk Stakes, Phoenix Stakes and Gimcrack Stakes. In the following year he won the Greenham Stakes before winning the Irish 2000 Guineas by fifteen lengths. He was beaten in his three remaining races and was retired to stud, where he had some success as a sire of winners.
Remittance Man was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competed under National Hunt rules. He was noted for his consistency, excellent jumping and nervous temperament. Between December 1988 and April 1990 he competed in hurdle races, and showed promise by winning two of his twelve races including the Grade 2 Bristol Novices' Hurdle and never finishing worse than third. When switched to compete in steeplechases he showed immediate improvement and won thirteen of his first fourteen races over fences. In his first season of steeplechasing his wins included the Noel Novices' Chase, Wayward Lad Novices' Chase, Galloway Braes Novices' Chase and Arkle Challenge Trophy. He had his greatest success in the 1991/1992 season when he won the Arlington Premier Chase, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Melling Chase. In the following autumn he won the Desert Orchid Chase and the Peterborough Chase but then sustained a serious tendon injury. He won his comeback race in February 1994 but was beaten in his three remaining races.
Bob Back was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He won the Premio Tevere as a two-year-old and the Valdoe Stakes as a three-year-old, but reached his peak in 1985 when he won the Premio Presidente della Repubblica before recording a 33/1 upset win over a very strong field in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. He was later exported to race in the United States but failed to reproduce his European form, winning one minor race from fourteen attempts. He later became a successful breeding stallion, making his biggest impact as a sire of chasers and hurdlers.
Casamento is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 2010 he was one of the best colts of his generation in Ireland, finishing second in the National Stakes before winning the Beresford Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy. In the following year his only win in four starts came in the Prix du Prince d'Orange. He was retired to stud at the end of the year having won four races in three countries from eight starts.
Djakadam is a French-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt races.
The Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Gowran Park over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 100 yards, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May.
Classic Park was a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After winning on her racecourse debut she was beaten in her other seven races as a two-year-old although she was placed in the Marble Hill Stakes, Silver Flash Stakes and Round Tower Stakes. In the following spring she won the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial before recording her biggest success when taking the Irish 1000 Guineas as a 20/1 outsider. She thus became the first Classic race winner trained by Aidan O'Brien. Classic Park did not win again despite running well in important races over one mile and was retired at the end of the year. As a broodmare she was best known as the dam of Walk In The Park who finished second in The Derby and became a successful National Hunt sire.
Colorspin was a French-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed great promise as a two-year-old in 1985 when she won both of her races in convincing fashion. In the following year she finished third in the Musidora Stakes and fourth in The Oaks before recording her biggest success with an easy win in the Irish Oaks. She was beaten in her two remaining starts and was retired racing at the end of the year.
Oscar Schindler was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion best known for being the second horse to win two runnings of the Irish St Leger. In a racing career which lasted from October 1994 until November 1997 he competed in five different countries and won five of his twenty starts.
