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With so many different kinds of sports available, it can be difficult to stick to following just one. If you’re looking to expand your views, you might be thinking about giving horseracing a chance. When just starting out, there is a lot to learn. From the rules to the most famous events, you should do plenty of research before you start betting on the Irish Derby, let’s say.
On the other hand, even if you’ve been following the sport for ages, you can still benefit from learning as much as possible about this year’s edition. Here is everything you should know about the 2023 Irish Derby.
The history of the Irish Derby
If you’re interested in learning about the history of the Irish Derby, we should go all the way back to 1817. It was then that the earliest version of this event was created – the O’Darby Stakes. However, these were discontinued after 1824. Then, the Curragh Derby was started in 1848 but didn’t last long.
The modern Irish Derby was first run in 1866 and it was 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 3 yards long. In 1869, it was prolonged to 9 yards before settling on the present distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 meters) in 1872. It is a right-handed track with a turf surface.
It is seen as the Irish equivalent of the Epsom Derby and is organized three weeks after the race in England. The first time an Epsom Derby winner also won at the Irish Derby was in 1907 – Orby was trained by Fred McCabe in Ireland.
The event became a big international race in 1962, with a substantially increased prize money purse. The race was combined with the Irish Hospitals’ Sweepstake and started going by the Irish Sweeps Derby. It started attracting more and more participants, such as Epsom Derby winners. For example, Santa Claus was the second horse that won both races in 1964.
From 1986 to 2007, the derby was sponsored by Budweiser while the role has been fulfilled by Dubai Duty Free since 2008. Harzand is the most recent horse of eighteen that have completed the English-Irish Derby double, in 2016. The purse for the 2022 event was €1,000,000 and the winner got €580,000. In 2023, it was increased to €1.25 million.
Called Dearbaí na hÉireann in Irish, it is a Group 1 flat race that is open to thoroughbred colts and fillies that are three years old. It still takes place in Curragh, typically in June or July. In 2023, it will be held on July 2. It’s important to note that the event is going back to a Sunday slot for the first time since 2011. For a while, it used to take place on the second day of the three-day meeting.
Previous winners
As you’re learning about the history of the Irish Derby, it’s also a good idea to look into some of the previous winners and record holders.
For example, when it comes to jockeys, Morny Wing has six wins that span three decades. He won in 1921, 1923, 1930, 1938, 1942 and 1946. In terms of trainers, Aidan O’Brien is leading the pack with 14 wins from 1997 to 2020. All of his wins have been with horses owned or co-owned by Michael Tabor. Tabor himself has 15 wins, including one in 2005 with André Fabre as the trainer.
The O’Brien/Tabor combination with Seamie Heffernan as the jockey got Santiago a win in 2020 with a time of 2:38.17. In 2021, the winner was Hurricane Lane from the Godolphin private horseracing stable (2:33.85) while 2022 saw Juddmonte stable’s Westover victorious with 2:34.80 (Colin Keane was the jockey and Ralph Beckett the trainer).
Things to know before betting
If you’re going to just watch, understanding the rules and how the race works is essential to have fun. However, if you also plan on betting on the Irish Derby, you should learn a little bit more.
For starters, it’s recommended to know a bit more about how odds work. Odds are basically the chance of winning that is given to a certain horse. Depending on where you are, these odds can be expressed differently. There are three ways how odds are represented – fractional, decimal and money line. They all note the same thing but some can be easier to understand than others.
- Fractional are also called British odds. They are written as 5/1, for example. That means that you can win £5 for every £1 you wager, meaning that you get £6 back in total.
- Decimal are called European or continental odds. They are written as 5.00. If you bet €1 and the horse you’ve wagered on wins, you get €5. These odds are a bit simpler to calculate to punters.
- Money line odds are also called American. They have a plus or minus in front of them, so you can see bets like -5 or +5. If there is a minus in front, it means that you need to bet the amount signified to win $100, for example. When there is a plus, that is the amount you could win if you bet $100.
Then, there are two types of betting – before and during the race. Betting ante-post means that you’re placing a bet on a specific horse weeks before the race begins. This way, you can find great odds and opportunities. However, it can also come with risk if the horse doesn’t end up racing, as then you will lose your stake. There are some sportsbooks that will refund you on this bet if that happens. Check out which bookmakers already offer this option, but keep in mind that the odds might change as the race approaches.
On the other hand, you can also start betting once the event comes a bit closer. Then, you can look into the current odds that are likely to stay until the race and place a few wagers on those that will certainly be running.
Where to bet on the Irish Derby
There are different ways how you can bet on the Irish Derby. In case you have plans to travel to Ireland and see the race live, you can place a bet once you arrive at the racetrack. The great atmosphere is sure to inspire you to make several wagers and test your luck and knowledge.
Then, if travelling is simply not a possibility, you can go to a few local betting shops and see which ones offer bets on the Irish Derby. Seeing as how it is a big event in the horse racing community, you should be able to find at least some options. If there are other fans there, perhaps you can make some friends and wait together as the race unfold.
In case you can’t find a local betting shop or you just don’t want to leave your home, you can also easily place a bet online. For example, there are betting sites for Irish Derby that list various kinds of wagers. This gives you access to all the participants, their odds, and some background information. You should be able to see who is the favourite and decide if you want to bet on them or the underdog.
Useful betting tips
Finally, if you are new to betting, you could benefit from a few useful tips.
It’s vital to understand that there are different kinds of bets. For one, you can opt for the single-win bet. This way, you will be betting on who the race winner will be. If they win, you win too. If they lose, you lose your bet too. This is why learning about the participants is vital. On the other hand, there are place-and-show bets that allow you to profit even if your favourite horse doesn’t win. A place bet means that the horse of your choosing can end up second too while a show bet lets them finish in third as well and you will still win. This is a great option for beginners.
Another tip you should take to heart is not placing all of your money on one bet. Consider making a few smaller bets as the chances are higher of one of them working out. You could lose too much by putting all your eggs in one basket.
Something else you should keep in mind is that it’s important to check several online operators and their odds. This is especially important if you’re just now making an account with a bookmaker seeing as most of them offer generous welcome bonuses that you should definitely make the most of. For example, there are providers that will double or triple your first deposit, which means that you can make more wagers and try some interesting bets as it’s basically free money.
If you’ve just recently learned about the Irish Derby, you will be interested in finding everything you can about it before you start watching and betting. Once the race approaches, make sure to look into who will be participating and opt for someone you think has a good chance.
Michael specializes in journalism, digital content production and social media management. He has a passion for numerous sports including football, horse racing and ice hockey. Michael currently works on a freelance basis, producing daily content for various outlets within the sports industry.
