The 85th running of the Irish Derby was held on Wednesday 21st June 1950 over 1 mile 4 furlongs of The Curragh. Subscriptions were 60 sovereigns with a pot of 4000 sovereigns added, 750 sovereigns to the second and 250 sovereigns to the third. The winner was owned by Francis More O'Ferrall, bred in Ireland by Mr R Laidlaw, Miss E B C Laidlaw and Mrs M R S Thornton, trained by Paddy Prendergast and ridden by John Thompson. The winner won by 1/2 length in 2 minutes 37.6 seconds, with 3 lengths between second and third. |
|
IRISH DERBY 1950
DARK WARRIOR (Brown colt by Fairhaven out of Dunure) SR 1959
The winning owner won 6957.5 sovereigns, (The equivalent of £226,600 in today's terms based on Bank of England inflation calculator). |
 
|
|
| Pos. |
Horse |
Weight |
Jockey |
Owner |
Trainer |
| 1 |
DARK WARRIOR |
9.0 |
John Thompson |
Francis More O'Ferrall |
Paddy Prendergast |
| 2 |
ECLAT |
9.0 |
Charlie Smirke |
HH Aga Khan III |
Marcus M Marsh |
| 3 |
PARDAL |
9.0 |
Rae Johnstone |
Marcel Boussac |
Henri Semblat FR |
| 4 |
MIGHTY OCEAN |
9.0 |
Aubrey Brabazon |
Mr A W Gordon |
Corporal Darby Rogers |
| 5 |
TURKISH PRINCE |
9.0 |
Martin Molony |
Mr Richard McIlhagga |
Paddy Prendergast |
| 6 |
EDWARSII |
9.0 |
Robert Quinlan |
Mr Joseph McGrath |
Seamus McGrath |
| 7 |
CECIL FRANCIS |
9.0 |
Herbert Holmes |
Mr Herbert Kerr |
P J Higgins |
| 8 |
ALBUS SUPERBUS |
9.0 |
James Eddery |
Mr Joseph McGrath |
Seamus McGrath |
| |
Betting |
OWNER PROFILE
Francis More O'Ferrall was born in Kildangan, County Kildare in 1904, eldest son of landowner Dominic More O'Ferrall. Like his two brothers he was interested in horse racing and founded the Anglo-Irish Bloodstock Agency. He won the 1950 Irish Derby with Dark Warrior (SR 1959) trained by Paddy Prendergast and ridden by John Thompson. His two brothers, Roderic and Rory, were also involved in horse racing. Roddy was a horse breeder and successful trainer, while the middle of the three brothers, Rory, was a successful owner enjoying Classic success in the 1960 Irish 2000 Guineas with Kythnos and in 1974 in the Irish St Leger with Mistisri. Francis died in 1974 aged 72. |
| 13/8 fav |
Pardal |
| 2/1 |
Mighty Ocean |
| 4/1 |
Dark Warrior |
| 7/1 |
Eclat |
| 10/1 |
Albus Superbus |
| 20/1 |
Turkish Prince |
| 50/1 |
Edwardsii |
| 100/1 |
Cecil Francis |
| |
Over round 120% |
| FORMLINE:- The winner, racing off level weights, won by a half length in 2 minutes 37.6 seconds. None of the runners ever contested an English Classic. |
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