Notes on Kildare connections from the time of the inaugural Irish Derby of 1866 to 1910 – no matter how tentative!
1869 – The Scout – was trained at French Furze by Laurence ‘Larry’ Keegan
Sired by The Ranger at Conyngham Lodge, Curragh. Thrilling three horse finish
1870 Billy Pitt – owner Paddy Keary, of Herbertstown House, Naas, one of Ireland’s first bookmakers. His horses were with the Connollys of Curragh View. Tom Connolly, had succeeded his father Pat, the first independent racehorse trainer in Ireland.
1871 – Favourite, Maid of Athens was trained in nearby Mountjoy Lodge by Patrick Doucie and ridden by stable jockey Tom Broderick. Sold subsequently to Monasterevan distiller James Cassidy.
1872 Trickstress – of Athgarvan Lodge sold shortly before to A R Bourne who took Rossmore Lodge for 1872 season
1873
Kyrle Daly – was trained in Mountjoy Lodge by Patrick Doucie and ridden by stable jockey Tom Broderick.
1874 Ben Battle – trained by Tom Connolly at Curragh View
1876 – Umpire – Bred by William Ryan at Ballymanny – trained by Joseph French, Straw Hall Curragh
1877 Redskin – Trained at Mountjoy Lodge by Dan Broderick – Mountjoy rebuilt by Capt. Stamer Gubbins of Knockany Stud, Limerick as a private stable
1879 Soulouque – Trained by Tom Connolly at Curragh View, ridden by John Connolly – no relation though Tom was assisted by Pat Connolly who took over Curragh View after Tom’s death. Pat was a brother of the jockey, John.
1880 King of the Bees – Trained by Daniel Broderick at Mountjoy Lodge
King of the Bees was bred and owned by William Brophy of Herbertstown, who had married Catherine Keary daughter of bookmaker Paddy ‘Bank of Ireland’ Keary. Margaret, their daughter, married Maddenstown trainer JJ ‘Jim’ Parkinson.
1881 Master Ned – won by a neck; Trained by Patrick Doucie at Melitta Lodge Curragh; Ridden by Tom Broderick (stable jockey) – Owned by Mr. James Archbold Cassidy, Monasterevin Distilelry fame
1882 Sortie – Owned by Mr. James Archbold Cassidy, Monasterevin Distillery fame; Trained by Pat Doucie; Ridden by Nicholas Behan (brother of William, Jack and Phillie)
1883 Sylph – Ridden by John Connolly
1884 Theologian – Trained by Willie Behan at Jockey Hall though more likely the owner George Moore of Jockey Hall was the trainer – ridden by John Connolly
1886 Theodemir – Owned and trained by George Moore, Jockey Hall – ridden by John Connolly
1887 Pet Fox – Owned and Trained by Henry Eyre Linde of Eyrefield Lodge, Curragh (born there in 1835); ridden by Terry Kavanagh who was attached to the stables there (died Newbridge 1908)
1888 Theodolite – Trained by Garrett Moore of Jockey Hall
1889 Tragedy – Bred by Lewis for T. Gisborne Gordon at Brownstown Lodge, Curragh; owned by Harry Greer of Brownstown; ridden by Tommy Beasley
1890 Kentish Fire – Trained by Rice Meredith at Curragh View and ridden by stable jockey Michael Dawson (of later Rathbride fame)
1891 Narraghmore – bred by William Ashe of Narraghmore, Co. Kildare; ridden by Tommy Beasley
1892 Roy Neil – Trained by Rice Meredith and ridden by Michael Dawson – Rathbride Manor, Curragh
1893 Bowline – Trained by Rice Meredith and ridden by Michael Dawson – Rathbride Manor, Curragh: carried Michael Dawson’s colours owing to death in owner’s (Matt Maher) family
1895 Portmarnock – Bred by William Brophy of Herbertstown
1897 Wales – Owned and trained by William Parke Cullen at Rathbride Cottage, Curragh – ridden by Tommy Fiely – possibly from Co. Kildare
1898 Noble Howard – Trained at Rosmore Lodge Curragh; Tommy Moran stable jockey
1899 Oppressor – Ridden by ‘Algy’ Algernion Anthony who later trained at Westenra and is buried in Kildare Cathedral grounds; he rode Ambush II to win the 1900 Grand National for Edward, Prince of Wales
1900 Gallinaria – Owned and bred at Eyrefiedl Lodge by Capt. Eustace Loder – Lucky Loder; trained by ‘Eyrefield’ Dan McNally under the supervision of Noble Johnston and Mr. G. W. Lushington who rode the winner.
1901 Carrigavalla – trained by ‘Eyrefield’ Dan McNally under th supervision of Noble Johnston and Mr. G. W. Lushington; ridden by Algy Anthony
1902 St. Brendan – Trained by Michael Dawson at Rathbride Manor; ridden by David Condon stable jockey (died tragically at Rathbride in 1903)
1904 Royal Arch – Trained by Michael Dawson of Rathbride Manor
1905 Flax Park – Trained by James ‘Fairy’ Dunne at Osborne Lodge, Curragh
1906 Killeagh – Trained by Michael Dawson at Rathbride Manor;
1907 Orby
Winner of Irish and Epsom Derby – previously trained by J. J. Parkinson on the Curragh
1908 Wild Bouquet – Trained and bred by James Dunne Osborne Lodge (four Irish Derbys)
1909 Bachelor’s Double – Trained by Michael Dawson at Rathbride Manor
1910 Aviator – Trained by Jack Behan at Waterford Lodge, Curragh; ridden by John Doyle who had been apprenticed to Michael Dennehy at French House in 1888 only 12. – father of Five Jockeys – purchased Rossmore Lodge in 1911 and died at Rossmore Lodge in 1942
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