The Desmond Stakes is a Group 3

Conditions races

Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...

 flat

Flat racing

Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...

 horse race

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

 in Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

 open to thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

s aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown

Leopardstown Racecourse

Leopardstown Racecourse is an Irish horse-racing venue. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Located in Leopardstown, County Dublin, 8km south of the Dublin city centre. The course was built by Captain George Quin and modeled on Sandown Park Racecourse...

 over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.

The event is named after Desmond, a champion sire in 1913. It was formerly held at the Curragh

Curragh Racecourse

The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :...

, and it used to be known as the Desmond Plate.

The race was transferred to Leopardstown in 2002. It has continued at this venue with one exception, a temporary return to the Curragh in 2009.

Records

Most successful horse since 1946 (2 wins):

• Spring Offensive – 1946, 1947
• White Gloves – 1966, 1967
• Rarity – 1970, 1971

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Leading jockey

Jockey

A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

 since 1950 (8 wins):

• Christy Roche
  Christy Roche
  Christy Roche is a retired champion Irish flat racing jockey.Over his thirty year career between 1968 and 1998 he won the Budweiser Irish Derby 3 times which he won in 1982, 1992 and 1997. His 1997 victory was on Desert King.-External links:*...
  
   – Rarity (1971), Mistigri (1975), More So (1978), Anfield (1982), Teleprompter (1984), Totem (1988), Star of Gdansk (1991), Second Empire (1998)

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Leading trainer

Horse trainer

In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

 since 1950 (12 wins):

• Vincent O'Brien
  Vincent O'Brien
  Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...
  
   – Restless Knight (1964), Reindeer (1969), Boucher (1972), Hail the Pirates (1973), Sir Penfro (1974), Niebo (1976), Be My Guest (1977), Belted Earl (1981), Sunstart (1985), Wise Counsellor (1986), Entitled (1987), Via Borghese (1992)

Winners since 1976

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Time
1976	Niebo	3	Lester Piggott Lester Piggott Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time....	Vincent O'Brien Vincent O'Brien Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...
1977	Be My Guest Be My Guest (horse) Be My Guest was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion sire. He was bred in Kentucky by Walter Haefner, a Swiss businessman and owner of Moyglare Stud Farm in Ireland...	3	Tommy Murphy	Vincent O'Brien Vincent O'Brien Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...	1:40.80
1978	More So	3	Christy Roche Christy Roche Christy Roche is a retired champion Irish flat racing jockey.Over his thirty year career between 1968 and 1998 he won the Budweiser Irish Derby 3 times which he won in 1982, 1992 and 1997. His 1997 victory was on Desert King.-External links:*...	Paddy Prendergast
1979	Spence Bay	4	Tony Murray	Seamus McGrath
1980	My Hollow	5	Declan Gillespie	Jim Bolger Jim Bolger (racehorse trainer) James S. "Jim" Bolger is an Thoroughbred racehorse trainer and breeder based in Coolcullen in County Kilkenny. For many years now he has been recognised as one of the racing greats in Ireland...
1981	Belted Earl	3	Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...	Vincent O'Brien Vincent O'Brien Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...
1982	Anfield	3	Christy Roche Christy Roche Christy Roche is a retired champion Irish flat racing jockey.Over his thirty year career between 1968 and 1998 he won the Budweiser Irish Derby 3 times which he won in 1982, 1992 and 1997. His 1997 victory was on Desert King.-External links:*...	David O'Brien David O'Brien (racehorse trainer) David O'Brien is an Irish former racehorse trainer. He was the son of highly successful trainer Vincent O'Brien. His primary successes included Assert who won the 1982 Irish and French Derbys and Secreto who won the 1984 Epsom Derby, defeating El Gran Senor trained by his father Vincent, making...
1983	Erins Hope	4	Declan Gillespie	Jim Bolger Jim Bolger (racehorse trainer) James S. "Jim" Bolger is an Thoroughbred racehorse trainer and breeder based in Coolcullen in County Kilkenny. For many years now he has been recognised as one of the racing greats in Ireland...
1984	Teleprompter	4	Christy Roche Christy Roche Christy Roche is a retired champion Irish flat racing jockey.Over his thirty year career between 1968 and 1998 he won the Budweiser Irish Derby 3 times which he won in 1982, 1992 and 1997. His 1997 victory was on Desert King.-External links:*...	Bill Watts
1985	Sunstart	3	Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...	Vincent O'Brien Vincent O'Brien Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...
1986	Wise Counsellor	3	Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...	Vincent O'Brien Vincent O'Brien Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...	1:40.70
1987	Entitled	3	Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen Cash Asmussen is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born Brian Keith Asmussen, in 1977 he legally changed his name to "Cash". From a Texas horse racing family, his parents, Keith and Marilyn "Sis" Asmussen, operate a ranch in Laredo, Texas...	Vincent O'Brien Vincent O'Brien Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...	1:37.30
1988	Totem	3	Christy Roche Christy Roche Christy Roche is a retired champion Irish flat racing jockey.Over his thirty year career between 1968 and 1998 he won the Budweiser Irish Derby 3 times which he won in 1982, 1992 and 1997. His 1997 victory was on Desert King.-External links:*...	David O'Brien David O'Brien (racehorse trainer) David O'Brien is an Irish former racehorse trainer. He was the son of highly successful trainer Vincent O'Brien. His primary successes included Assert who won the 1982 Irish and French Derbys and Secreto who won the 1984 Epsom Derby, defeating El Gran Senor trained by his father Vincent, making...	1:49.00
1989	Llyn Gwynant	4	Declan Gillespie	John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995....	1:34.30
1990	Kostroma Kostroma (horse) Kostroma was an Thoroughbred filly racehorse who competed successfully in Ireland as well as in the United States where she set a world record for a mile and an eighth on turf at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.-Breeding:...	4	Stephen Craine	Tommy Stack Tommy Stack Tommy Stack is a former National Hunt racing jockey and current National Hunt trainer. As a jockey, he is probably best-known for piloting Red Rum to a third Grand National victory. Stack was National Hunt Champion Jockey for the 1974-75 and 1976-77 seasons. He got his first trainer's license in...	1:37.30
1991	Star of Gdansk	3	Christy Roche Christy Roche Christy Roche is a retired champion Irish flat racing jockey.Over his thirty year career between 1968 and 1998 he won the Budweiser Irish Derby 3 times which he won in 1982, 1992 and 1997. His 1997 victory was on Desert King.-External links:*...	Jim Bolger Jim Bolger (racehorse trainer) James S. "Jim" Bolger is an Thoroughbred racehorse trainer and breeder based in Coolcullen in County Kilkenny. For many years now he has been recognised as one of the racing greats in Ireland...	1:36.30
1992	Via Borghese	3	Willie Carson Willie Carson William Fisher Hunter Carson, OBE is a retired jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.-Life and career:Best known as "Miserable Willie", Carson was born in Stirling, Scotland. In 1957 he was apprenticed to Captain Gerald Armstrong at his stables at Tupgill, North Yorkshire...	Vincent O'Brien Vincent O'Brien Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...	1:41.00
1993	Asema	3	Michael Kinane Michael Kinane Michael J. Kinane is a former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009....	Dermot Weld Dermot Weld Dermot K. Weld is one of Ireland's most successful racehorse trainers. He holds the record for the most winners trained in Ireland ....	1:46.20
1994	Bin Ajwaad	4	Lester Piggott Lester Piggott Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time....	Ben Hanbury	1:36.40
1995	Mr Martini	5	Brett Doyle	Clive Brittain Clive Brittain Clive Brittain is a British race-horse trainer. He began training as an apprentice in 1949, and on his own as a licensed trainer in the early 1970s. He currently trains at Carlburg Stables in Newmarket, Suffolk...	1:37.10
1996	Idris	6	Kevin Manning	Jim Bolger Jim Bolger (racehorse trainer) James S. "Jim" Bolger is an Thoroughbred racehorse trainer and breeder based in Coolcullen in County Kilkenny. For many years now he has been recognised as one of the racing greats in Ireland...	1:38.40
1997	Swift Gulliver	3	Kevin Manning	Jim Bolger Jim Bolger (racehorse trainer) James S. "Jim" Bolger is an Thoroughbred racehorse trainer and breeder based in Coolcullen in County Kilkenny. For many years now he has been recognised as one of the racing greats in Ireland...	1:38.80
1998	Second Empire	3	Christy Roche Christy Roche Christy Roche is a retired champion Irish flat racing jockey.Over his thirty year career between 1968 and 1998 he won the Budweiser Irish Derby 3 times which he won in 1982, 1992 and 1997. His 1997 victory was on Desert King.-External links:*...	Aidan O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....	1:35.60
1999	Haami	4	John Reid John A. Reid John Andrew Reid John Andrew Reid John Andrew Reid (born August 6, 1955 in Banbridge County Down, Northern Ireland is a retired flat race jockey.Reid served as an apprentice in his native Ireland to Leslie Crawford, before moving to England and joining Verley Bewicke. His first Classic victory came...	John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995....	1:40.40
2000	Golden Silca	4	Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh Johnny Murtagh is a Irish flat racing jockey from Bohermeen, Navan, County Meath.He excels on the big stage, having won many Group 1 races around the world...	Mick Channon Mick Channon Michael Roger "Mick" Channon is a sportsman who enjoyed a career as a striker with Southampton and England in the 1970s and later became a hugely successful racehorse trainer.-Southampton:...	1:41.70
2001	Hawkeye	3	Michael Kinane Michael Kinane Michael J. Kinane is a former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009....	Aidan O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....	1:45.20
2002	Dress to Thrill	3	Pat Smullen Pat Smullen Patrick J. Smullen is a jockey and considered one of the top riders in Ireland. He has had many successes through his position as stable jockey to Dermot Weld.-Major wins: Ireland...	Dermot Weld Dermot Weld Dermot K. Weld is one of Ireland's most successful racehorse trainers. He holds the record for the most winners trained in Ireland ....	1:38.80
2003	Refuse to Bend Refuse To Bend Refuse To Bend is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse. He was owned by Swiss businessman Walter Haefner and was bred at his Moyglare Stud Farm near the town of Maynooth, County Kildare, in Ireland...	3	Pat Smullen Pat Smullen Patrick J. Smullen is a jockey and considered one of the top riders in Ireland. He has had many successes through his position as stable jockey to Dermot Weld.-Major wins: Ireland...	Dermot Weld Dermot Weld Dermot K. Weld is one of Ireland's most successful racehorse trainers. He holds the record for the most winners trained in Ireland ....	1:37.30
2004	Ace	3	Jamie Spencer Jamie Spencer Jamie Spencer is an Irish flat racing jockey currently riding in the UK. He has been champion jockey in both Ireland and Britain and has won four classics, two in each country. Spencer is widely regarded as one of the best, and most naturally talented, UK-based jockeys - despite not having a...	Aidan O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....	1:37.30
2005	Caradak	4	Michael Kinane Michael Kinane Michael J. Kinane is a former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009....	John Oxx John Oxx John M. Oxx is a trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses. His stables are located on "The Curragh" of Kildare, the stables are named Currabeg Stables. His father, John Oxx Sr., was also a very successful trainer who won eight Irish classics and it was the younger Oxx's ambition to follow in his...	1:38.30
2006	King Jock	5	Pat Shanahan	Robbie Osborne	1:40.80
2007	She's Our Mark	3	Danny Grant	Pat Flynn Patrick J. Flynn Patrick J. Flynn is a successful race horse trainer. Among the winners the he has trained are:Alalja, winner of:*1992 Debutante Stakes Montelado, winner of:*1992 Champion Bumper*1993 Supreme Novices' HurdleSalmon Eile, winner of:...	1:42.69
2008	Sunset	3	Pat Smullen Pat Smullen Patrick J. Smullen is a jockey and considered one of the top riders in Ireland. He has had many successes through his position as stable jockey to Dermot Weld.-Major wins: Ireland...	Dermot Weld Dermot Weld Dermot K. Weld is one of Ireland's most successful racehorse trainers. He holds the record for the most winners trained in Ireland ....	1:44.32
2009	Famous Name	4	Pat Smullen Pat Smullen Patrick J. Smullen is a jockey and considered one of the top riders in Ireland. He has had many successes through his position as stable jockey to Dermot Weld.-Major wins: Ireland...	Dermot Weld Dermot Weld Dermot K. Weld is one of Ireland's most successful racehorse trainers. He holds the record for the most winners trained in Ireland ....	1:42.79
2010	Beethoven	3	Joseph O'Brien	Aidan O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....	1:39.52
2011	Future Generation	3	Keagan Latham	Ger Lyons	1:39.91

Heart Lake finished first in 1994, but he was relegated to last place following a stewards' inquiry.


Ivory Frontier and Timarida were first and second in 1995, but the race was awarded to the third-placed horse.