The Dublin based racecourse of Leopardstown is located 5 miles from the city centre, and 3 miles from Bray, and first opened its gates on Monday 27th August 1888. The course was the brainchild of Captain George Quin who had witnessed the Park courses being built in England in the mid-1870s and modelled Leopardstown on Sandown racecourse. He had been the genius behind the formation of the Leopardstown Race Company early in 1888, having previously been Keeper of the Match Book for the Irish Turf Club between 1885 and 1891. After 6 months of hard work turning ordinary grazing land into ‘one of the most charming spots on which the eye can dwell’, the magnificence of the racecourse and the grandeur of the buildings were appreciated by a crowd of over 50000, many taking advantage of the railway line passing within 20 yards of the course. A full set of results from that inaugural meeting are given below. Today it hosts both Flat and National Hunt races, staging Group 1 races in each category. The Irish Champion Hurdle and Hennessey Gold Cup are two principal National Hunt races, while the Irish Champion Stakes is one of many top grade Flat races held at this top racecourse. Currently it hosts 22 fixtures annually.
Monday 27th August 1888
Vintners Handicap (150 sovereigns) over 5 furlongs
1. Edina (10/1) owned by Mr C Ellison and ridden by T Doyle
2. King of Diamonds (16/1) owned by Mr W Dunn and ridden by Waterson
3. Justitia (6/1) owned by Mr C J Blake and ridden by Saunders
Harcourt Hunters Stakes (150 sovereigns) over 3 miles
1. Bendamere (2/1 jfav) owned by Mr Bowman and ridden by H Beasley
2. Graball (2/1 jfav) owned by Mr R Dewhurst and ridden by R Dewhurst
3. Ulysses (8/1) owned by Mr P J Dunne and ridden by R Owen
Leopardstown Handicap (300 sovereigns) over 7 furlongs
1. Sir George (Evens fav) owned by Lord Chesterfield
2. Helmsman (8/1) owned by Mr M A Maher
3. Hespodar (6/1) owned by Mr S M Nolan
St George’s Plate (200 sovereigns) over 5 furlongs
1. Theophilas (4/5 fav) owned Captain H Jones and ridden by Nightingall
2. Coolshuagh (5/1) owned by Mr G Murphy and ridden by Robinson
3. Golden Plume (10/1) owned by Mr R N Talbot and ridden by Gurley
Mile Selling Welter Plate (150 sovereigns) over 1 mile
1. Red Rose (5/1) owned by Mr C W Bauge and ridden by Gurley
2. Midas (6/1) owned by Colonel Thompson and ridden by Foster
3. Castanet (2/1 fav) owned by Mr W Denneby and ridden by J Connolly
Club Handicap (200 sovereigns) over 1 ¼ miles
1. Campanula (5/1) owned by Mr T T Rowley and ridden by J Connolly
2. Gyneth (2/1 jfav) owned by Mr G M Nolan and ridden by Saunders
3. Pythias (8/1) owned by Mr A Tiernan and ridden by Foster
Inauguration Golden Cup (100 sovereigns)
1. Sunnyside (5/2 fav) owned by Mr J Daly and ridden by Keys
2. Arline (3/1) owned by Mr T T Rowley and ridden by J Connolly
3. Brown Eyes (10/1) owned by Mr E P Ryan and ridden by J Walsh
The inaugural running of the Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was in 1987 when won by Forgive ‘n’ Forget. A complete list of winners is shown below:-
1987 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Forgive ‘n’ Forget (5/6 fav) trained by Jimmy Fitzgerald and ridden by Mark Dwyer, beating Very Promising (11/4) trained by David Nicholson and ridden by Richard Dunwoody, with Barrow Line (4/1) trained by Pat Hughes and ridden by Niall Madden in third
1988 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Playschool (2/1) trained by David Barons and ridden by Paul Nicholls, beating Forgive ‘n Forget (4/5 fav) trained by Jimmy Fitzgerald and ridden by Mark Dwyer, with Royal Bond (10/1) trained by Arthur Moore and ridden by Tom Taaffe in third
1989 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Carvill’s Hill (9/4 fav) trained by Jim Dreaper and ridden by Ken Morgan, beating Weather The Storm (12/1) trained by Arthur Moore and ridden by Brendan Sheridan, with Lastofthebrownies (33/1) trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by Tommy Carmody in third
1990 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Nick The Brief (5/1) trained by John Upson and ridden by Martin Lynch, beating Carvill’s Hill (8/11 fav) trained by Jim Dreaper and ridden by K Morgan, with Maid of Money (7/2) trained by J R H Fowler and ridden by A Powell in third
1991 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Nick The Brief (11/8 fav) trained by John Upson and ridden by Robbie Supple, beating Olan Lad (100/1) trained by P F Lehane and ridden by Michael Flynn, with Roc de Prince (12/1) trained by T M Walsh and ridden by Brendan Sheridan in third
1992 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Carvill’s Hill (4/9 fav) trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Peter Scudamore, beating Garamycia (8/1) trained by Bill Deacon and ridden by Brendan Sheridan, with Gold Options (9/1) trained by Jimmy Fitzgerald and ridden by Mark Dwyer in third
1993 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Jodami (11/8 fav) trained by Peter Beaumont and ridden by Mark Dwyer, beating Chatam (5/2) trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Peter Scudamore, with General Idea (3/1) trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Brendan Sheridan in third
1994 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Jodami (5/4 fav) trained by Peter Beaumont and ridden by Mark Dwyer, beating Deep Bramble (5/1) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Peter Niven, with Force Seven (12/1) trained by Paddy Pullins and ridden by Adrian Maguire in third
1995 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Jodami (13/8 fav) trained by Peter Beaumont and ridden by Mark Dwyer, beating Merry Gale (7/4) trained by Jim Dreaper and ridden by Graham Bradley, with Nuaffe (25/1) trained by P A Fahy and ridden by S H O’Donovan in third
1996 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Imperial Call (4/1) trained by Fergie Sutherland and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer, beating Master Oats (5/4 fav) trained by Kim Bailey and ridden by Jamie Osborne, with Monsieur Le Cure (5/2) trained by J A C Edwards and ridden by Jason Titley in third
1997 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Danoli (6/1) trained by Tom Foley and ridden by Tommy Treacy, beating Jodami (5/1) trained by Peter Beaumont and ridden by Norman Williamson, with Imperial Call (evens fav) trained by Fergus Sutherland and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer in third
1998 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Dorans Pride (6/4) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Richard Dunwoody, beating Dun Belle (50/1) trained by P A Fahy and ridden by Tommy Treacy, with Anabatic (50/1) trained by M J O’Brien and ridden by T P Rudd in third
1999 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Florida Pearl (8/15 fav) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Richard Dunwoody, beating Escartefigue (100/30) trained by David Nicholson and ridden by Richard Johnson, with Addington Boy (33/1) trained by Ferdy Murphy and ridden by Adrian Maguire in third
2001 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Florida Pearl (5/4 fav) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Richard Johnson, beating Alexander Banquet (20/1) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Barry Geraghty, with Dorans Pride (11/1) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by P G Hourigan in third
2002 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Alexander Banquet (3/1) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Barry Geraghty, beating Behrajan (5/1) trained by Henry Daly and ridden by Norman Williamson, with Rince Ri (9/2) trained by T M Walsh and ridden by Ruby Walsh in third
2003 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Beef or Salmon (Evens fav) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Timmy Murphy, beating Colonel Braxton (7/2) trained by Dessie Hughes and ridden by Norman Williamson, with Harbour Pilot (6/1) trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Paul Carberry in third
2004 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Florida Pearl (5/1) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Richard Johnson, beating Le Coudray (15/8 fav) trained by Christy Roche and ridden by Barry Geraghty, with Rince Ri (4/1) trained by T M Walsh and ridden by Ruby Walsh in third
2005 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Rule Supreme (11/2) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by David Casey, beating Beef or Salmon (8/15 fav) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Paul Carberry, with Cloudy Bays (20/1) trained by C Byrnes and ridden by Davy Russell in third
2006 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Beef or Salmon (2/5 fav) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Paul Carberry, beating Hedgehunter (100/30) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by David Casey, with Native Upmanship (50/1) trained by Arthur Moore and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer in third
2007 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Beef or Salmon (11/4) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Andrew McNamara, beating The Listener (9/10 fav) trained by Robert Alner and ridden by Daryl Jacob, with Hi Cloy (14/1) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Paul Carberry in third
2008 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by The Listener (2/1 fav) trained by Robert and Sally Alner and ridden by Daryl Jacob, beating Turko (13/2) trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Sam Thomas, with Snowy Morning (11/4) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh in third
2009 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Neptune Collonges (8/13 fav) trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh, beating Notre Pere (100/30) trained by Jim Dreaper and ridden by Andrew Lynch, with Chelsea Harbour (20/1) trained by Thomas Mullins and ridden by Davy Russell in third
2010 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Joncol (9/4 fav) trained by Paul Nolan and ridden by Alain Cawley, beating Cooldine (5/2) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, with Schindlers Hunt (20/1) trained by Dessie Hughes and ridden by P W Flood in third
2011 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Kempes (5/1) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by David Casey, beating Glencove Marina (25/1) trained by Eoin Griffin and ridden by Robbie Power, with Joncol (13/8 fav) trained by Paul Nolan and ridden by Alain Cawley in third
2012 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Quel Esprit (5/4 fav) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, beating Roberto Goldback (14/1) trained by Dessie Hughes and ridden by Barry Geraghty, with Treacle (33/1) trained by Tom Taaffe and ridden by Paul Townend in third
2013 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Sir Des Champs (11/8) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Davy Russell, beating Flemenstar (4/5 fav) trained by P Casey and ridden by Andrew Lynch, with Joncol (33/1) trained by Paul Nolan and ridden by Robbie Power in third
2014 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Last Instalment (8/1) trained by Philip Fenton and ridden by Brian O’Connell, beating Tidal Bay (5/2) trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh, with First Lieutenant (7/4 fav) trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by Bryan Cooper in third
2015 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Carlingford Lough (4/1) trained by John Kiely and ridden by Tony McCoy, beating Foxrock (7/2) trained by T M Walsh and ridden by Adrian Heskin, with Lord Windermere (7/1) trained by Jim Culloty and ridden by Davy Russell in third
2016 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Carlingford Lough (20/1) trained by John Kiely and ridden by Mark Walsh, beating Road to Riches (5/4 fav) trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Bryan Cooper, with Fine Rightly (33/1) trained by S Crawford and ridden by Andrew Lynch in third
2017 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Sizing John (100/30) trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Robbie Power, beating Empire of Dirt (9/2) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy, with Don Poli (9/4 fav) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by David Mullins in third
2018 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Edwulf (33/1) trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Mr Derek O’Connor, beating Outlander (6/1) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy, with Djakadam (13/2) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Mr Patrick Mullins in third
2019 The Irish Gold Cup over 3 miles was won by Bellshill (2/1) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, beating Road to Riches (5/6 fav) trained by Noel Meade and ridden by S W Flanagan, with The Storyteller (8/1) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Davy Russell in third
