Irish Champion Stakes

Breeders' Cup Challenge Series > Irish Champion Stakes

Irish Champion Stakes Race Facts

• Location: Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin, Ireland
• Inaugural Race: 1976
• Distance: 1 mile & 2 furlongs (2,012 metres)
• Track Type: Left-handed, Turf
• Age Qualifications: Three Year Olds and up
• 2024 Purse: $1,200,000
• 2024 Race Date: Saturday, September 14th

2024 Irish Champion Stakes Race Results

Exotic Payoffs:

• $1.00 Exacta (5-1) Paid: $8.10
• $0.50 Trifecta (5-1-8) Paid: $39.00
• $1.00 Superfecta (5-1-8-7) Paid: $138.00

Watch the 2024 Irish Champion Stakes

Irish Champion Stakes Race History

The Irish Champion Stakes is a Group I horse race run each year at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin, Ireland. The race was first inaugurated in 1976 as the Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes, a well known and successful racehorse owner who helped establish the notorious Irish Hospitals' Sweepstakes.

The race has established itself as a key prep race for several other major global races like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Hong Kong International Festival and major Group 1 races in Japan. As a result, the race is known for attracting some of the best three-year olds (and up) in the world. This was no more apparent than the 2016 edition, with 12 of the 17 horses lining up sharing 17 career Group 1 wins collectively. In fact, four runners would go on to capture additional Group 1 wins that year, including the winners of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Currently, two horses are tied for the record for most wins at two: Dylan Thomas (2006, 2007) and Magical (2019, 2020). Legendary Irish rider Michael Kinane holds the record for most wins by a Jockey with seven (1989, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2009).

In 2009, the race became part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, offering the winners automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Irish Champion Stakes Past Winners