The Ulster Derby is a flat handicap horse race in Northern Ireland open to three-year-old horses. It is run at Down Royal over a distance of 1 mile 4 furlongs and 150 yards (2,551 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
The event was established in 1936, and it was originally restricted to three-year-olds. For a period it was contested over 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 68 yards. It was opened to older horses in 1994, and increased in distance to 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 190 yards (2,588 metres). In 2014 it was restricted to three-year-olds again and reduced to 1 mile and 3 furlongs (2, 213 metres) before being increased to its present distance in 2015.
The Ulster Derby is Northern Ireland's most valuable flat race.
Records Most successful horse: no horse has won this race more than once
Leading jockey since 1962 (4 wins): Tommy Murphy – Dumbwaiter (1974), Caucasus (1975), Transworld (1977), Encyclopedia (1978)
Leading trainer since 1962 (7 wins): Vincent O'Brien – Onandaga (1969), Tantoul (1971), Dumbwaiter (1974), Caucasus (1975), Transworld (1977), Encyclopedia (1978), Baba Karam (1987) Jim Bolger - Nordic Region (1990), Kirov Premiere (1993), Citizen Edward (2001, dd-ht), Wexford Town (2014), Stellar Mass (2016), Clongowes (2017), Change of Velocity (2018)
Winners since 1988 Weights given in stones and pounds. Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer Time 1988 Highland Bud 3 8–11 Ron Quinton John Oxx 1989 Lone Runner 3 8–11 Raymond Carroll Dermot Weld 1990 Nordic Region 3 8–11 Willie Supple Jim Bolger 1991 Dowland 3 8–11 Steve Cauthen Michael Kauntze 1992 Tijara 3 8-09 Johnny Murtagh John Oxx 1993 Kirov Premiere 3 9-04 Christy Roche Jim Bolger 1994 Karikata 3 8-01 D. G. O'Shea John Oxx 1995 Munif 3 8–10 Michael Kinane Dermot Weld 2:33.50 1996 I'm Supposin 4 9-09 M. Duffy Kevin Prendergast 1997 Docklands Limo 4 8-05 David Harrison Brian McMath 2:33.80 1998 Dragon Triumph 3 8-02 Robbie Fitzpatrick Jim Gorman 2:35.10 1999 General Cloney 3 8-00 Niall McCullagh Willie Mullins 2:34.90 2000 Media Puzzle 3 8-09 Pat Smullen Dermot Weld 2:32.10 2001(dh) Citizen EdwardMasilia 44 8-038-07 Seamie HeffernanJohnny Murtagh Jim BolgerJohn Oxx 2:32.30 2002 Balapour 4 8-01 Tom Queally Oliver Brady 2:53.30 2003 Blue Corrig 3 7-05 Davy Moran Joe Crowley 2:35.70 2004 Green Lassy 4 7-05 Padraig Beggy Ger Lyons 2:45.70 2005 Newlands North 4 7–10 Rory Cleary Michael O'Brien 2:49.50 2006 Kempes 3 8-08 Pat Smullen Frances Crowley 2:43.20 2007 Temlett 3 8-01 Chris Hayes Willie Mullins 2:46.50 2008 Fantoche 6 8-05 Willie Supple Jessica Harrington 2:50.00 2009 Changingoftheguard 3 8-07 Colm O'Donoghue Aidan O'Brien 2:45.38 2010 Celtic Dane 6 9-05 Chris Hayes Kevin Prendergast 2:42.12 2011 Banksters Bonus 3 8-09 Shane Foley Jessica Harrington 2:48.89 2012 Alhellal 6 8-08 Declan McDonogh Maurice Phelan 2:52.39 2013 Sir Ector 6 9-03 Chris Hayes Jimmy Lambe 2:47.41 2014 Wexford Town 3 8-13 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:19.95 2015 Botany Bay 3 8-04 Niall McCullagh Charles O'Brien 2:43.47 2016 Stellar Mass 3 9-06 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:47.09 2017 Clongowes 3 8-10 Ronan Whelan Jim Bolger 2:44.01 2018 Change Of Velocity 3 9-12 Kevin Manning Jim Bolger 2:46.67 2019 Dadoozart 3 9-07 Shane Foley Noel Meade 2:54.90 2020 Red Kelly 3 9-03 Shane B. Kelly Johnny Murtagh 2:51.85 2021 Iowa 3 8-12 Michael Hussey Aidan O'Brien 2:47.69 2022 Urban Oasis 3 8-00 Jamie Powell John James Feane 2:52.32 2023 Tower of London 3 9-05 Killian Hennessy Aidan O'Brien 2:45.14 2024 Going Remote 3 8-07 Nathan Crosse Jessica Harrington 2:45.31 2025 Vorfreude 3 8-10 Gary Carroll Joseph Murphy 2:46.17 2026 Madbadanddangerous 3 8-09 Gavin Ryan Noel Meade 2:54:28
Earlier winners
1936: Black Domino 1937: Owenstown 1948: Soodani 1954: Red Winter 1962: Atlantis 1963: Christmas Island 1964: Netherby 1965: Newsrullah 1966: My Kuda 1967: Dan Kano 1968: Stitch 1969: Onandaga 1970: Dubrava 1971: Tantoul 1972: Falaise 1973: French Fable 1974: Dumbwaiter 1975: Caucasus 1976: Captain Memory 1977: Transworld 1978: Encyclopedia 1979: The Bart 1980: Sheringham 1981: Dance Bid 1982: Affiance 1983: Sir Simon 1984: Sondrio 1985: Rising 1986: Don Diege 1987: Baba Karam
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish flat horse races Ulster Grand National
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , downroyal.com – Previous winners of the Ulster Derby. pedigreequery.com – Ulster Derby – Down Royal.