Editing Irish Derby (section)

==History==
The earliest version of the Irish Derby was an event called the O'Darby Stakes. This was established in 1817, but it was discontinued after 1824. A subsequent race titled the Curragh Derby was inaugurated in 1848, but this was again short-lived.{{fact|date=December 2021}}

The modern Irish Derby was created by the [[Earl of Howth|3rd Earl of Howth]], the [[Henry Moore, 3rd Marquess of Drogheda|3rd Marquess of Drogheda]] and the [[James Caulfeild, 3rd Earl of Charlemont|3rd Earl of Charlemont]]. It was first run in 1866, and it was initially contested over 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 3 yards. It was extended by 9 yards in 1869, and cut to its present distance in 1872. The first Epsom Derby winner to achieve victory in the Irish version was [[Orby (horse)|Orby]], trained in Ireland by Fred McCabe, in 1907.{{fact|date=December 2021}}

The Irish Derby became a major international race in 1962, when its prize money was substantially increased. [[Joseph McGrath (Irish politician)|Joe McGrath]], a founder of the [[Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake]], combined the race with the sweepstake, and it became known as the Irish Sweeps Derby. The event began to regularly attract the winners of the Epsom Derby, and [[Santa Claus (horse)|Santa Claus]] became the second horse to win both races in 1964.{{fact|date=December 2021}}

The Irish Derby was sponsored by [[Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)|Budweiser]] from 1986 to 2007, and it has been backed by Dubai Duty Free since 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|date=31 January 2018|title=Derby Extends Deal with Dubai Duty Free|url=https://sportforbusiness.com/derby-extends-deal-with-dubai-duty-free/|access-date=2020-11-23|website=Sport for Business|language=en-GB}}</ref> It is currently staged on the second day of the Curragh's three-day Irish Derby Festival meeting.{{fact|date=December 2021}}

A total of nineteen horses have now completed the English-Irish Derby double, and the most recent was [[Auguste Rodin (horse)|Auguste Rodin]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carson |first1=Gary |title=Rodin rules as he completes Derby double |url=https://www.irishracing.com/news/Rodin-rules-as-he-completes-Derby-double/240786 |access-date=3 July 2023 |work=Irishracing.com |date=2 July 2023}}</ref>