The 44th running of the Irish Derby was held on Wednesday 30th June 1909 over 1 mile 4 furlongs of The Curragh. Subscriptions were 15 sovereigns with a pot of 1000 sovereigns, 150 sovereigns to the second and 50 sovereigns to the third. The winner was owned and bred in Ireland by Mr Joseph Lowry, trained by Michael Dawson at Rathbride Manor, Curragh and ridden by Alfred Sharples. The winner won by a length and a half, with 3 lengths between second and third.

IRISH DERBY 1909

BACHELOR'S DOUBLE (Chestnut colt by Tredennis out of Lady Bawn) SR 2007

The winning owner won 783 sovereigns, (The equivalent of £88,600 in today's terms based on Bank of England inflation calculator).
GN1907.JPG (8122 bytes)

GN1908.JPG (8001 bytes)

GN1910.JPG (7999 bytes)
Pos. Horse Weight Jockey Owner Trainer
1 BACHELOR'S DOUBLE 9.5 Alfred Sharples Mr Joseph Lowry Michael Dawson
2 THE PHOENICIAN 8.6 Steve Donoghue Major William Joicey Philip Behan
3 ELECTRIC BOY 9.1 Walter Bray Mr E P Gall Philip P Peebles
4 LEGATE 9.1 John Thompson Mr James J Parkinson James Parkinson
5 GARNISH ISLAND 8.3 William H Williams Mr J Holmer H Peard J Holmer Peard
6 BACHELOR'S CHANCE 8.2 John Clayton Mr Joseph Lowry Michael Dawson
7 LOVE'S FOLLY 7.12 Peter Hughes Sir Ernest C Cochrane James Dunne
  Betting

JOCKEY PROFILE

Alfred Sharples was born in 1885 and proved to be a successful jockey on both sides of the Irish Sea. He won the 1904 Cesarewitch on Mr Horatio Bottomleys Wargrave, beating Rondeau and War Wolf, but his most important victory was in the 1909 Irish Derby aboard Bachelor's Double (SR 2007).
Evens fav Bachelor's Double
9/2 Electric Boy
6/1 The Phoenician
6/1 Garnish Island
10/1 Legate
10/1 Love's Folly
33/1 Bachelor's Chance
  Over round 123%
FORMLINE:- The winner conceded 13 lbs to the second, winning by a comfortable length and a half.
I am grateful to David Copland for the images of the rare item shown below.

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses
Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent.
ORDER FORM
Download an order form
  Quantity Cost
Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage    
Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage    
Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage    
Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage    
Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage    
Postage & Packaging    
Total    
Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com