The 6 Best Irish Racehorses of All Time
Horse racing is one of Ireland’s biggest passions and the tradition has deep roots within the country. Many of the world’s most iconic and legendary racehorses of all time were born and bred in Ireland. The Emerald Isle is at the centre of the horse thoroughbred industry because the country’s climate and landscape are ideal for raising horses.
If you’ve ever been to a horseracing event, you’ll know that the event is a great spectacle to watch and a truly thrilling experience. The races are also extremely popular for betting on horse racing in Ireland. For punters, horse racing provides an even more exhilarating experience and there are millions who bet on the races every year, not only in Ireland.
Alongside football betting, betting on horse racing is one of the biggest sports betting markets in Ireland, not only because the Irish are so passionate about the sport but also because there are several exciting betting opportunities available.
If you’re looking to get into horse racing, you’ve landed on the right page. Join us as we take a look at the six greatest Irish racehorses of all time. You might not be able to place your bets on these particular horses if you want to start horse race betting, but every horse race bettor must know about these iconic legends that shaped the history of horse racing in Ireland.
1. Arkle
Arkle was an Irish-bred racehorse that was born in 1957 and is still considered to be one of Ireland’s finest racehorses to this day. The iconic steeplechaser and his rider jockey Pat Taafe won 27 of the 35 races they competed in, and Arkle was also a three-time champion in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He also won the Irish Grand National, two Henessy Gold Cups, and the King George VI Chase.
The Racing Post newspaper also voted all-time favourite racing horse in England and Ireland. Sadly, his stellar career came to an end in 1966 when he suffered a serious injury in the King George VI Chase which forced him to end his career.
2. Yeats
Another iconic Irish thoroughbred horse, Yeats became famous when he won the Ascot Gold Cup, four times in a row! He is the only racehorse in history to achieve such a win and out of 22 races he competed in, he won 14, including several Group 1 races. His career started off on a winning streak at just two years old, culminating in the Ascot Gold Cup win. Most recently, Noble Yeats won the Grand National in 2022, which is when his jockey Sam Waley-Cohen also retired from his career.
3. Shergar
One of the fastest racehorses to ever grace the Irish racetracks, Shergar’s story is perhaps the most interesting of all. He had an incredibly successful track record, winning the Irish Derby and the Epsom Derby. He won the latter by 10 lengths, which is not only an incredible feat but the largest winning margin in the history of the Epsom Derby.
At the height of his career, Shergar was reportedly worth more than €10 million, and in 1983, he was kidnapped from his farm. He was held at ransom but to this day, Shergar has never been found nor have his kidnappers been caught.
4. Sea The Stars
Sea The Stars is widely considered to be the most successful Irish racehorse to have ever lived due to his long list of accomplishments. The very first race of his career was when he was just two years old, where he finished in second place. After that, Sea The Stars was simply unbeatable until the end of his career.
As a three-year old, Sea The Stars won the Irish Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, and the 2000 Guineas as well. This made him the very first colt since 1989’s Nashwan to achieve this feat. Adding on to his list of achievements, Sea The Stars also won the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
5. Zarkava
Zarkava was an Irish racehorse born in 2005, but her career really took off when she was sold to France. She wasn’t particularly successful in her home country, but when she started her flat racing career in France, she became an unstoppable winner. She attained legendary status in French flat racing during her seven-year career with some of her most notable wins including multiple Group 1 wins and the title of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner in 2008.
6. Dawn Run
The only racehorse in history so far to win the Irish, English, and French Champion Hurdles, Dawn Run is known as one of the most iconic racehorses in Ireland. Trained by Paddy Mullins, Dawn Run won 21 out of 35 races that she ran in. some of her most notable moments include achieving a double in the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Her career came to an end at eight years old when she fell during one of her races in France. Nowadays, a memorial statue of Dawn Run stands at Cheltenham’s Parade Ring, opposite another commemorative statue of Arkle.
Her career came to an end at eight years old when she fell during one of her races in France. Nowadays, a memorial statue of Dawn Run stands at Cheltenham’s Parade Ring, opposite another commemorative statue of Arkle.
