Irish River
Encyclopedia
Irish River was a French
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who won seven Group One
races in France during his two-years of racing.
Bred and raced by Mrs. Raymond Ades, he was out of the mare
Irish Star. His sire
was the influential Riverman
, a grandson of the extremely important stallion, Nearco
.
Racing at age two in 1978, Irish River made six starts under French trainer John Cunnington, Jr. After winning his first two races, the colt finished fourth in the July 30th Group Two
Prix Robert Papin
to winner Pitasia. However, three weeks later he defeated Pitasia in capturing the Group One Prix Morny
. At the end of the year he won his fifth race, the prestigious Grand Critérium
and earned 1978 French Champion 2-Yr-Old Colt honors.
In the 1979 season, three-year-old Irish River duplicated his previous year's record by again winning five of his six starts. His only loss was a third-place finish in the Prix Lupin
. The 1979 French Champion Miler, Irish River ended his brilliant career as a winner of seven Group One races and would later have his career performances recognized by being selected by France Galop
as a member of the French Horse Racing Hall of Fame
.
at his Gainesway Farm
in Lexington, Kentucky
where his influential sire Riverman had stood.
Beginning in 1980, Irish River had a successful twenty-two-year career as a stallion. Due to declining fertility, he was pensioned in 2001 having sired 87 stakes winners including:
Successful as a broodmare sire, Irish River is the damsire of notable runners such as:
At age twenty-eight, Irish River died suddenly of a massive heart attack on April 25, 2004, at Gainesway Farm.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
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...
racehorse
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...
who won seven Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
races in France during his two-years of racing.
Bred and raced by Mrs. Raymond Ades, he was out of the mare
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
Irish Star. His sire
Sire
Sire may refer to:* Father, the counterpart of a dam, particularly in animal breeding. See also stallion* James W. Sire, author on worldviews* Sire Records, a record label* Sire Advertising, an advertising agency...
was the influential Riverman
Riverman
This article is about the racehorse. For the song by Nick Drake, see Five Leaves Left.Riverman was a French Thoroughbred racehorse. Foaled in Kentucky, he was bred by Harry F. Guggenheim of the prominent American Guggenheim family...
, a grandson of the extremely important stallion, Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
.
Racing at age two in 1978, Irish River made six starts under French trainer John Cunnington, Jr. After winning his first two races, the colt finished fourth in the July 30th Group Two
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...
Prix Robert Papin
Prix Robert Papin
The Prix Robert Papin is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 1,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
to winner Pitasia. However, three weeks later he defeated Pitasia in capturing the Group One Prix Morny
Prix Morny
The Prix Morny is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
. At the end of the year he won his fifth race, the prestigious Grand Critérium
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère
The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.It is the oldest and most prestigious race in France...
and earned 1978 French Champion 2-Yr-Old Colt honors.
In the 1979 season, three-year-old Irish River duplicated his previous year's record by again winning five of his six starts. His only loss was a third-place finish in the Prix Lupin
Prix Lupin
The Prix Lupin was a Group 1 flat horse race in France which was open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It was run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres , and it was scheduled to take place each year in May....
. The 1979 French Champion Miler, Irish River ended his brilliant career as a winner of seven Group One races and would later have his career performances recognized by being selected by France Galop
France Galop
France Galop is the governing body of flat and steeplechase horse racing in France. It was founded on May 3, 1995 as the result of the amalgamation of four different industry organizations...
as a member of the French Horse Racing Hall of Fame
French Horse Racing Hall of Fame
The French Horse Racing Hall of Fame as established by France Galop, the governing authority for Thoroughbred horse races in France. French Horse Racing is a nationally honored sport, as each year thousands gather to observe the races...
.
As a sire
At the end of his racing career Irish River was acquired by John R. Gaines who brought him to stand at studHorse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
at his Gainesway Farm
Gainesway Farm
Gainesway Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding business in Lexington, Kentucky. It was originally called Greentree Farms.The 1,500 acre property has been home to sires such as Youth and Exceller and numerous others who are buried on the property...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
where his influential sire Riverman had stood.
Beginning in 1980, Irish River had a successful twenty-two-year career as a stallion. Due to declining fertility, he was pensioned in 2001 having sired 87 stakes winners including:
- Or Vision (1983) - multiple stakes winning Filly in France as well as a multiple stakes producer
- HatoofHatoofHatoof is a Thoroughbred Champion racehorse who competed internationally out of a base in Chantilly, France under trainer Criquette Head for owner Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Racing at age 2 in France, Hatoof started three times, winning once and placing second on two occasions...
(1989) - Champion in France in 1991 and 1993. Voted the 1994 United States Eclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf HorseEclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf HorseThe American Champion Female Turf Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. It is part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to a female horse for her performance on grass race courses.... - Paradise CreekParadise Creek (horse)Paradise Creek was a millionaire American Thoroughbred racehorse and successful sire. He was bred in Kentucky by Bertram R. Firestone and raced under the same Firestone banner as his owner. He finished racing with a record of 14-7-1 in 25 starts with career earnings of $3,401,415. Paradise Creek...
(1989) - multiple Grade I winner in the U.S. and winner of the 1994 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf HorseEclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf HorseThe American Champion Male Turf Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. In 1971 it became part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to a Colt or Gelding, regardless of age, for their performance on grass race courses.... - Brief Truce (1989) - won Grade I St. James's Palace StakesSt. James's Palace StakesThe St. James's Palace Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
, earned 1992 European highweight honors - River Bay (1993) - millionaire multiple stakes winner in France and the United States
- Natalie Too (1994) - 1997 Champion three-year-old filly in PeruPeruPeru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
- Irish Prize (1996) - millionaire multiple stakes winner
Successful as a broodmare sire, Irish River is the damsire of notable runners such as:
- ArcanguesArcangues (horse)Arcangues was a Thoroughbred racehorse and sire from France.The son of owner Daniel Wildenstein's 1984 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sagace, he was given the name of the village of Arcangues in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques departement of the Aquitaine region...
(1988) - 1993 Breeders' Cup ClassicBreeders' Cup ClassicThe Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
winner - Saffron Walden (1996) - won Group One Irish 2,000 Guineas
- David JuniorDavid JuniorDavid Junior is a retired thoroughbred racehorse and active sire, who was bred in the United States but trained in the United Kingdom during his racing career which lasted from 2004 to 2006...
(2002)- Eclipse Stakes, Champion Stakes, Dubai Duty Free
At age twenty-eight, Irish River died suddenly of a massive heart attack on April 25, 2004, at Gainesway Farm.