Irish Derby Europe’s Richest Classic

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30029, 14 January 1963, Page 5

Irish Derby Europe’s Richest Classic

(NX^A.-Rovtes— Copyright)

LONDON. January 12. The Irish Derby, an immense success last yeer. will again be Europe's richest classic race in 1963. As in 1962. it will be worth about £50.000 to tbe winning owner, compared with about £35.000 for the Epsom Derby. In 1901, the value to the winner off the Epsom classic will go up to about £70.000 with the accruement of money from the Betting Levy Board. But for Utts year at least the European classic focus, from a financial viewpoint at any rate, win be Curragh of County Kildaire. In former years, when the Irish Derby was of comparatively little value, it was commonly left to the mercy of colts who had been unsuccessful in the Epsom equivalent

But for this year's huge prize the entry includes nearly all tbe elassie aspirants of Britain and Ireland, a large slice of France's best-bred colts of this grewretfon and entries direct from the United States, from Briy, Belgium, Germany, Canada, and Portugal As the wheat is sorted from tbe chaff in eariy-eeason racing, it is probabb that most off the clMcic worthy colts will stand their ground through the various acceptance rtages.

The owner* represented by entries in the Cutvagh race include several who have already gained the honour of winning the Epsom Derby—

Lord Rosebery, LieutenantColonel Giles Loder, Mr and Mrs Arpad Pleach, Baron Geoffrey de Waldner, Mr Pierre Wertheimer and Mrs Leon Volterra.

Most of these are represented by multiple enfries. The date of the Irish classic, the last Saturday in June, has been arranged to avoid a clash with the Epsom and French events, which are usually run within a few days of each other.

Last year the American owner, Mr Haymond R. Guest, bid tmeur rwftiTly for a dual clresic triumph by running his Epsom winner. Larkspur, at tbe Curragh, and the organism of the Irish classic remark hopefully: “The Curragh provides the venue for a championship decided over a distance ideal for both the French and Epsom Derby winners.

The possibility that toe winner of both rinnrirt will be in the Arid at the Curragh next June may be * rather slim one, but it is an interesting aspect of the “new look" Irish Derby. The owner. Mrs VoMerra. has a chance of twinging off a unique family treble through the medium of the Her late husband won the French Derby with Duplex in ISM and she herself took to* Epeom classic with FhQ Drake to ISM. Mrs Voter* has five cotes engaged tor the third "lag” of the international treble. ;