The inaugural running of what today is known as the Irish Derby was held on Wednesday 27th June 1866 over 1 mile 6 furlongs and 3 yards of The Curragh. There were 38 subscribers (39 according to the 1866 Racing Calendar) at 25 sovereigns each, raising a pot of £421, and the winner was owned by Mr James Cockin, trained by Thomas Cliff and ridden by Charles Maidment. The winner, bred by Daniel Kinsella in Ireland, won by an easy 3 lengths.

IRISH DERBY 1866

SELIM (Bay colt by Ivan out of Light of the Harem) SR 1970

The winning owner won 421 sovereigns, (The equivalent of £45,300 in today's terms based on Bank of England inflation calculator).
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Pos. Horse Weight Jockey Owner Trainer
1 SELIM 8.10 Charles Maidment Mr James Cockin Thomas Cliff
2 UNNAMED BAY COLT BY KING TOM 8.10 Michael Lynch Mr Christopher St George Joseph French
3 FIRE-EATER 8.7 Jas Doyle Mr P Plunkett  
  Betting

RACE DETAILS
Selim made the early running and led all the way to record a bloodless victory by 3 lengths from the King Tom colt which was later named as Tom King. Fire-Eater, later renamed as Rob Roy, could never get on terms with the front pair and finished some way behind.
Evens Tom King colt
5/4 Selim
4/1 Fire-Eater
  Over round 114%
On Tuesday 1st May 1866 Selim was third behind Mr St George's bay colt by King Tom in Her Majesty's 100 Guineas Plate. On Thursday 3rd May 1866 Selim won Her Majesty's 100 Guineas Plate from Fire-Eater and Marksman. After winning the inaugural Irish Derby, on Thursday 28th June 1866 Selim won Her Majesty's 100 Guineas Plate in a canter from Mr St George's bay colt by King Tom showing that he had made significant progress. On Wednesday 5th September 1866 Selim was second behind the 4 year old Dunsany in Her Majesty's 100 Guineas Plate.

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