Diamond Stakes
Encyclopedia
The Diamond Stakes is a Group 3
flat
horse race
in Ireland
which is open to thoroughbred
s aged three years or older. It is run at Dundalk
over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 150 yards (2,149 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.
The event was formerly classed at Listed level, and it used to be contested on turf over 1 mile and 2 furlongs. For a period it was held at Phoenix Park
, and it was transferred to the Curragh
in 1991. The race was formerly restricted to fillies and mares, but it was opened to male horses in 2001. It was staged at Fairyhouse
in 2006 and 2007.
The Diamond Stakes moved to its present home, Dundalk, in 2008. It is now run on a Polytrack surface, and its distance has been extended by 150 yards. The race was promoted to Group 3 status in 2009. It is the first non-turf event in Ireland to be classed at this level.
The Diamond Stakes is currently part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge
series. The winner of the race now earns an automatic invitation to compete in the same year's Breeders' Cup Marathon
.
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...
which is 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 Dundalk
Dundalk Stadium
Dundalk Stadium is a horse and greyhound racing venue in Ireland. It is located to the north of Dundalk in County Louth. The course is a floodlit 1¼ mile left-handed oval, and races are run on an all-weather Polytrack surface....
over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 150 yards (2,149 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.
The event was formerly classed at Listed level, and it used to be contested on turf over 1 mile and 2 furlongs. For a period it was held at Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park Racecourse
Phoenix Park Racecourse is a former horse racing venue in Ireland. It was located in the north-west corner of Dublin on the northern edge of Phoenix Park. The course was founded by J. H. H. Peard, and racing began there in 1902....
, and it was transferred to 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 :...
in 1991. The race was formerly restricted to fillies and mares, but it was opened to male horses in 2001. It was staged at Fairyhouse
Fairyhouse Racecourse
Fairyhouse Racecourse is one of Ireland's premier horse racing venues. Situated in the parish of Ratoath in County Meath, on the R155 regional road, 3 km off the N3. It is the home of the Irish Grand National. The first race meet was held in 1848...
in 2006 and 2007.
The Diamond Stakes moved to its present home, Dundalk, in 2008. It is now run on a Polytrack surface, and its distance has been extended by 150 yards. The race was promoted to Group 3 status in 2009. It is the first non-turf event in Ireland to be classed at this level.
The Diamond Stakes is currently part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge
Breeders' Cup Challenge
The Breeders' Cup Challenge is a series of Thoroughbred horse races in the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, France, Hong Kong and Australia in which the winner earns an automatic spot in an American Breeders' Cup race....
series. The winner of the race now earns an automatic invitation to compete in the same year's Breeders' Cup Marathon
Breeders' Cup Marathon
The Breeders' Cup Marathon is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race established in 2008 as part of the annual Breeders' Cup World Championships. A Weight for Age race open to horses three years old and up, it was contested on dirt at a distance of 1½ miles in its inaugural running. For 2009,...
.
Winners since 1988
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Time |
Turf before 2008 | |||||
1988 | Karaferya | 3 | 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... |
Sir Michael Stoute Michael Stoute Sir Michael Ronald Stoute is a Barbadian British thoroughbred horse trainer in flat racing. Stoute, whose father was the Chief of police for Barbados, left the island in 1964 at the age of 19 to become an assistant to trainer Pat Rohan and began training horses on his own in 1972... |
2:02.40 |
1989 | Bex | 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... |
Robert Armstrong | 2:04.60 |
1990 | Santella Bell | 3 | Warren O'Connor | Michael O'Brien | 2:07.20 |
1991 | Elfaslah | 3 | Richard Hills | Harry Thomson Jones Harry Thomson Jones Harry Thomson Jones , often known as Tom Jones, was a British racehorse trainer whose career lasted from 1951 to 1996... |
2:16.10 |
1992 | Misako-Togo | 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 .... |
2:11.10 |
1993 | Eurostorm | 3 | Pat Gilson | Con Collins | 2:18.30 |
1994 | Ballykett Nancy | 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... |
2:20.40 |
1995 | Viaticum | 3 | Joanna Morgan | Noel Meade Noel Meade Noel Meade is a famous horse trainer from Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland as a place to train his horses.Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, but it was not until 1978 that Meade started to become well recognized. Sweet Mint, winner of the Cork and Orrery... |
2:09.60 |
1996 | French Ballerina | 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.... |
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:... |
2:14.20 |
1997 | Red Affair | 3 | Pat Shanahan | 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... |
2:07.80 |
1998 | Darina | 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... |
2:18.40 |
1999 | Remuria | 3 | Niall McCullagh | 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... |
2:23.90 |
2000 | Dolydille | 4 | 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... |
2:18.10 |
2001 | Jammaal | 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 .... |
2:13.90 |
2002 | Miss Honorine | 3 | 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... |
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... |
2:08.10 |
2003 | Napper Tandy | 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... |
2:04.00 |
2004 | Mikado | 3 | Colm O'Donoghue Colm O'Donoghue Colm O'Donoughue is an Irish flat jockey.In 2002, while an apprentice rider for the Aidan O'Brien racing stable he was injured and hospitalized after falling during the Dawn Fresh Cream Handicap.... |
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.... |
2:11.40 |
2005 | The Carbon Unit | 3 | Wayne Lordan | Con Collins | 2:13.90 |
2006 | Mountain | 3 | Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times.... |
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.... |
2:15.00 |
2007 | Arch Rebel | 6 | Fran Berry | Noel Meade Noel Meade Noel Meade is a famous horse trainer from Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland as a place to train his horses.Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, but it was not until 1978 that Meade started to become well recognized. Sweet Mint, winner of the Cork and Orrery... |
2:04.86 |
Polytrack after 2007 | |||||
2008 | Muhannak | 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... |
Ralph Beckett | 2:11.63 |
2009 | Mastercraftsman Mastercraftsman Mastercraftsman is a Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. The four-time Group One-winning colt is trained by Aidan O'Brien and has been ridden by Johnny Murtagh in all of his wins... |
3 | 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... |
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.... |
2:12.18 |
2010 | Gitano Hernando | 4 | Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times.... |
Marco Botti | 2:12.94 |
2011 | Freedom | 3 | Seamus Heffernan | 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.... |
2:10.92 |