The 74th running of the Irish Derby was held on Wednesday 21st June 1939 over 1 mile 4 furlongs of The Curragh. Subscriptions were 65 sovereigns with a pot of 3675 sovereigns, 800 sovereigns to the second and 300 sovereigns to the third. The winner was owned by Mr Patrick Ruttledge, bred by Harold S Gray in England, trained by James Canty and ridden by Joe Canty. The winner won by 1/2 length in 2 minutes 38 seconds, with a length between second and third. |
|
IRISH DERBY 1939
MONDRAGON (Chestnut colt by Sea Serpent out of Far Day) SR 1936
The winning owner won 2500 sovereigns, (The equivalent of £155,400 in today's terms based on Bank of England inflation calculator). |
 
|
|
| Pos. |
Horse |
Weight |
Jockey |
Owner |
Trainer |
| 1 |
MONDRAGON |
8.12 |
Joe Canty |
Mr Patrick Ruttledge |
James Canty |
| 2 |
CRUSHED CORN |
8.12 |
John Moylan |
Mr William Barnett |
Bryan Rogers |
| 3 |
CORNFIELD |
9.5 |
Thomas Burns |
Mr William Barnett |
Sam Armstrong |
| 4 |
WONERSH |
8.12 |
Henry H Beasley |
Miss Dorothy Paget |
William Hilliard |
| 5 |
RED SHAFT |
8.12 |
E Martin Quirke |
Captain Denis W Daly |
Rod More O'Ferrall |
| 6 |
SOLO FLIGHT |
8.12 |
Morny Wing |
Mrs Isobel Mackean |
Colonel Arthur Blake |
| 7 |
KENILWORTH |
8.12 |
Gordon Richards |
2nd Viscount Aster |
Joseph Lawson |
| 8 |
SUMMER SOLSTICE |
8.12 |
William Barrett |
Major H C Robinson |
Colonel Arthur Blake |
| 9 |
FAIRWARGOR |
8.12 |
Herbert Holmes |
Mr Joseph McGrath |
James J Parkinson |
| |
Betting |
RACE REPORT
Wednesday 21st June 1939 was a very special day in Irish racing when the celebrated Champion jockey Gordon Richards rode Kenilworth in the Irish Derby. He was made second favourite behind the even money favourite Cornfield, but it was not to have a fairy tale finish for Gordon as he finished down the field. Crushed Corn, stablemate of the favourite, set the early pace in the hope that it would guarantee that the favourite stayed, but in the end neither could cope with the late surge of the outsider Mondragon trained by Jim Canty and ridden by the crack Irish jockey Joe Canty. The favourite looked as though he might prevail but clipped the heels of Crushed Corn and Mondragon and was outstayed by both. Crushed Corn finished second, beaten just half a length. |
| Evens fav |
Cornfield |
| 6/1 |
Kenilworth |
| 6/1 |
Crushed Corn |
| 8/1 |
Solo Flight |
| 10/1 |
Wonersh |
| 100/8 |
Mondragon |
| 25/1 |
Fairwargor |
| 25/1 |
Summer Solstice |
| 25/1 |
Red Shaft |
| |
Over round 118% |
| FORMLINE:- The winner received 7 lbs from the favourite but got home by half a length in the fast time of 2 minutes 38 seconds. |
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