Irish Lad
Encyclopedia
Irish Lad was an American Thoroughbred
Champion racehorse
and a world record
holder.
Bred by H. Eugene Leigh
, in the fall of 1901 he sold the yearling to John Madden
for $2,550. Madden conditioned him for racing and brought him to the track in the spring of 1902 where he showed enough potential that Herman Duryea
and Harry Whitney
paid $17,500 for him. Racing under the partners nom de course, Westbury Stable, and still trained by John Madden, Irish Lad won important races such as the Great Trial Stakes at Sheepshead Bay Race Track
and the Saratoga Special Stakes
. His 1902 performances earned him retrospective American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors.
As a three-year-old, Irish Lad's training was taken over by John W. Rogers. His biggest win of 1903 came on May 28 in the Brooklyn Handicap
at Gravesend Race Track
in which he set a new stakes record time. In May 1904, four-year-old Irish Lad won the prestigious Metropolitan Handicap
at Morris Park Racecourse
then on June 26 at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track he set a world record of 2:17.60 for a mile and three eighths on dirt in winning the Advance Stakes
over what the New York Times described as five of the best horses in the United States. Came out of the July 9 Brighton Handicap
badly lame and was retired
but in May 1905 it was announced that he was back in training. In June 1905 Irish Lad finished ninth in an all-age handicap at Gravesend Race Track and shortly thereafter was retired to stud
.
Irish Lad had sired only a few horses while at stud in the United States when the Legislature of New York passed the Hart-Agnew anti-betting law that resulted in the complete shutdown of racing. As a consequence, Irish Lad, along with other horses owned by Duryea such as Frizette, were sent to his newly acquired Haras du Gazon stud farm in Neuvy-au-Houlme
in Lower Normandy, France
. There, he also met with limited success but did notably sire Banshee, winner of the 1913 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
(French 1000 Guineas) and Pellsie who won the 1919 Prix de Diane
(French Oaks).
Irish Lad died Haras du Gazon in 1925 of old age.
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...
Champion 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...
and a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
holder.
Bred by H. Eugene Leigh
H. Eugene Leigh
Hiram Eugene Leigh was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer/owner and breeder who had a highly successful career in the United States as well as in Europe....
, in the fall of 1901 he sold the yearling to John Madden
John E. Madden
John Edward Madden was a prominent AmericanThoroughbred and Standardbred owner, breeder and trainer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. He owned Hamburg Place Stud in Lexington, Kentucky and bred five Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winners.He was inducted into the National...
for $2,550. Madden conditioned him for racing and brought him to the track in the spring of 1902 where he showed enough potential that Herman Duryea
Herman B. Duryea
Herman L. B. Duryea was an American Thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder.Herman Duryea built an estate in Old Westbury on Long Island, New York known as "Knole". Completed in 1903, it was designed by Carrere and Hastings...
and Harry Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney was an American businessman, thoroughbred horsebreeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family.- Early years :...
paid $17,500 for him. Racing under the partners nom de course, Westbury Stable, and still trained by John Madden, Irish Lad won important races such as the Great Trial Stakes at Sheepshead Bay Race Track
Sheepshead Bay Race Track
Sheepshead Bay Race Track was an American Thoroughbred horse racing facility built on the site of the Coney Island Jockey Club at Sheepshead Bay, New York...
and the Saratoga Special Stakes
Saratoga Special Stakes
The Saratoga Special Stakes is an American grade II thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid-August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is for two-year-olds willing to race six and a half furlongs on the dirt....
. His 1902 performances earned him retrospective American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors.
As a three-year-old, Irish Lad's training was taken over by John W. Rogers. His biggest win of 1903 came on May 28 in the Brooklyn Handicap
Brooklyn Handicap
The Brooklyn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to three-year-olds and up willing to race one and one-half miles on dirt....
at Gravesend Race Track
Gravesend Race Track
Gravesend Race Track at Gravesend on Coney Island, New York was a Thoroughbred horse racing facility built by the Brooklyn Jockey Club as a result of the backing of the wealthy racing stable owners, the Dwyer Brothers. Philip J...
in which he set a new stakes record time. In May 1904, four-year-old Irish Lad won the prestigious Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
at Morris Park Racecourse
Morris Park Racecourse
Morris Park Racecourse was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility from 1889 until 1904. It was located in a part of Westchester County, New York that was annexed into the Bronx in 1895 and later became known as Morris Park...
then on June 26 at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track he set a world record of 2:17.60 for a mile and three eighths on dirt in winning the Advance Stakes
Advance Stakes
The Advance Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1899 through 1910 at the Sheepshead Bay Race Track in Brooklyn, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it was raced on dirt...
over what the New York Times described as five of the best horses in the United States. Came out of the July 9 Brighton Handicap
Brighton Handicap
The Brighton Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1895 through 1907 at the Brighton Beach Race Course in Brighton Beach, Coney Island, New York and in 1910 at Empire City Race Track...
badly lame and was retired
but in May 1905 it was announced that he was back in training. In June 1905 Irish Lad finished ninth in an all-age handicap at Gravesend Race Track and shortly thereafter was retired to stud
Stud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
.
Irish Lad had sired only a few horses while at stud in the United States when the Legislature of New York passed the Hart-Agnew anti-betting law that resulted in the complete shutdown of racing. As a consequence, Irish Lad, along with other horses owned by Duryea such as Frizette, were sent to his newly acquired Haras du Gazon stud farm in Neuvy-au-Houlme
Neuvy-au-Houlme
Neuvy-Au-Houlme is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.Neuvy-Au-Houlme is home to the historic Thoroughbred horse breeding farm, Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard and the standardbred farm, Haras du Ribardon.-References:*...
in Lower Normandy, France
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...
. There, he also met with limited success but did notably sire Banshee, winner of the 1913 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, sometimes referred to as the French 1,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
(French 1000 Guineas) and Pellsie who won the 1919 Prix de Diane
Prix de Diane
The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
(French Oaks).
Irish Lad died Haras du Gazon in 1925 of old age.