Irish River


Irish River was a French Thoroughbred racehorse who won seven Group One races in France during his two-years of racing.

Background

Bred and raced by Mrs. Raymond Ades, he was out of the mare Irish Star. His sire was the influential Riverman, a grandson of the extremely important stallion, Nearco. He was trained by John Cunnington, Jr..

Racing career

Racing at age two in 1978, Irish River made six starts. After winning his first two races, the colt finished fourth in the July 30th Group Two Prix Robert Papin to winner Pitasia. However, three weeks later he defeated Pitasia in capturing the Group One Prix Morny. At the end of the year he won his fifth race, the prestigious Grand Critérium.
In the 1979 season, three-year-old Irish River duplicated his previous year's record by again winning five of his six starts. His only loss was a third-place finish in the Prix Lupin. Irish River ended his career as a winner of seven Group One races.

Stud record

At the end of his racing career Irish River was acquired by John R. Gaines who brought him to stand at stud at his Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky where his influential sire Riverman had stood.
Beginning in 1980, Irish River had a successful twenty-two-year career as a stallion. Due to declining fertility, he was pensioned in 2001 having sired 87 stakes winners including:
Irish River is the damsire of notable runners such as:
At age twenty-eight, Irish River died suddenly of a massive heart attack on April 25, 2004, at Gainesway Farm.