Cauthen at Curragh to receive Old Vic award

The former Irish and French Derby winning horse Old Vic is the latest recipient of the Kildare Derby Festival’s Hall of Fame award.

The jockey who rode the famous horse to these victories, the multiple US and European classic winning rider from the USA, Steve Cauthen, was on hand to receive the award at the Curragh Racecourse as he also helped launch the 2022 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Previous recipients of the Kildare Derby Festival’s Hall of Fame were Christy Roche and Sinndar, and now Old Vic is the latest to receive the honour. The honour recognises the fact that Old Vic’s owner Sheikh Mohammed donated the 1989 Irish Derby prize money to the Curragh Racecourse and this was used to start what is now one of the best all-weather gallops in the world which is named after the great horse ridden by Steve Cauthen who himself won an Irish Derby and two Irish Oaks at Ireland’s racing headquarters.

The 157th running of one of the most prestigious races in the international racing calendar, The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, taking place on June 25th, caps the Kildare Derby Festival which runs a full programme of events in the town from 18 to 26 June 2022.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival takes place from Friday June 24th to Sunday June 26th.

Cauthen said: “Its great to be back in the Curragh and relive my memories of Old Vic’s Irish Derby. Its great to see the gallop named after the great horse that’s goes up the through the middle of the racecourse and which reminds me of how great a race the Irish Derby is.”

Chairperson of the Kildare Derby Festival Orla Murtagh said: “Its brilliant now to have launched the Kildare Derby Festival and special to have Steve Cauthen here with his relationship with Old Vic winning the Irish Derby 33 years ago.

"There’s great anticipation and a sense of ‘we’re next now' after the Epsom Derby last weekend as the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is such a special event in the middle of the racing calendar.

"I’m very proud of the committee for the Kildare Derby Festival, they put such trojan work into organising so many events and we’re especially looking forward to Eimear Quinn in concert in the cathedral that week and as a festival we want to complement the racing at the Curragh that weekend.

"We’re grateful to sponsors Rockshore for helping us create a lovely carnival atmosphere with The Blizzards in concert in Kildare Town immediately after racing on the Saturday night of the Irish Derby.”