The 20th running of the Irish Derby was held on Wednesday 24th June 1885 over 1 mile 4 furlongs of The Curragh. Subscriptions were 15 sovereigns with 550 sovereigns to the winner, 50 sovereigns to the second and 25 sovereigns to the third. The winner was owned and bred by Mr Charles J Blake, trained by James Dunne and ridden by Henry Saunders. The winner won by 3/4 length, with 2 1/2 lengths back to the third.

IRISH DERBY 1885

ST KEVIN (Chestnut colt by Arbitrator out of Lady of the Lake) SR 1789

The winning owner won 460 sovereigns, (The equivalent of £56,200 in today's terms based on Bank of England inflation calculator).
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Pos. Horse Weight Jockey Owner Trainer
1 ST KEVIN 7.13 Henry Saunders Mr Charles J Blake James Dunne
2 MADCAP 8.12 Nicholas Behan Mr P Colfer James Gannon
3 RUNNYMEDE 8.2 William Miller Mr Michael Dennehy Michael Dennehy
4 THE CHICKEN 8.3 Thomas Broderick Mr James Nolan Daniel Broderick
5 TICE 7.12 J Rowan Captain Llewellyn Jones Garrett Moore
6 THE RATH 7.13 Thomas Bailey Mr C W Thompson Patrick Connolly
7 JACK 9.2 Mr Thomas Beasley Mr John R Gubbins Henry E Linde
8 ALCESTER 8.2 Callan Lord Drogheda Michael Moneypenny
PU ROYAL ROSE 8.5 Thomas Harris Mr Charles J Blake James Dunne
  Betting

RACE REPORT
Madcap, after his recent success at Baldoyle, was the medium of some substantial investments which forced him down to 2/1 favourite. The field got away at the first time of asking, The Rath leading from Tice, Runnymede and Alcester. Within 200 yards of the start Harris aboard Royal Rose broke his leathers and narrowly avoided catastrophe. As the field approached the mile post Tice joined The Rath to lead, while St Kevin began to make noticeable progress. As they entered the chains Tice continued to hold a slender lead, pressed by Runnymede, St Kevin and Madcap, but as they rounded the bend of the rails a match ensued between St kevin, closest to the rails, and Madcap. In the drive to the line St Kevin held on cleverly to win by 3/4 length from Madcap, with 2 1/2 lengths back to Runnymede, The Chicken, Tice, The Rath and Jack.
2/1 fav Madcap
4/1 Royal Rose
6/1 Tice
8/1 Runnymede
8/1 Jack
100/8 St Kevin
100/8 Alcester
100/8 The Chicken
100/8 The Rath
  Over round 121%
The winner received 13 lbs from the favourite, but only scrambled home by 3/4 length.

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