Irish Castle (USA)
May 11, 1967 – June 20, 1991
Bold Ruler (USA) x Castle Forbes (USA), by Tulyar (IRE)
Family 8-c
May 11, 1967 – June 20, 1991
Bold Ruler (USA) x Castle Forbes (USA), by Tulyar (IRE)
Family 8-c
Irish Castle demonstrated talent as a juvenile but was not a consistent racehorse. His stud career was in a similar vein, as he sired one very good runner in his champion son Bold Forbes but was otherwise useful rather than stellar.
Race record
18 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 3 thirds, US$106,702
1969:
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1969, 9 pounds below champion Silent Screen.
As an individual
A small, powerfully made bay horse, Irish Castle had a good hind leg but was rather long-backed and heavy in his forehand; he also had offset knees. He did his best running from off the pace.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Irish Castle sired 318 winners (58.2%) and 33 stakes winners (6.0%) from 546 named foals.
Notable progeny
Bold Forbes (USA), Irish Playboy (USA), Priceless Fame (USA), The Fog (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dunbeath (USA), Saratoga Six (USA), Tibullo (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Irish Castle was bred and owned by Wheatley Stable. He was trained by Eddie Neloy. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1972 at The Stallion Station, which later became Pillar Stud. He was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in June 1991.
Pedigree notes
Irish Castle is inbred 3x4 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is also inbred 5x5 to Nearco's paternal grandsire Phalaris (also a two-time champion sire on the combined English/Irish list) and to three-time English/Irish champion sire Blandford. He is a full brother to 1974 Matron Stakes (USA-G1) winner Alpine Lass, whose granddaughter Dollar's Persia was a champion sprinter in Holland. Alpine Lass is also the second dam of Grade 3 winner Delineator. Returning to Irish Castle, he is also a full brother to Irish Manor, dam of 1985 Display Handicap (USA-G3) winner Erin Bright (by Majestic Light) and third dam of 2008 Panamanian champion imported older female Sophia Slew and Australian Group 2 winner Barbaricus.
Irish Castle was produced from Castle Forbes, the American co-champion juvenile filly of 1963. Her dam Longford (by Menow) is a half sister to 1959 Sysonby Handicap winner The Irishman (by Nasrullah), multiple stakes winner Knocklofty (by Parnassus) and 1975 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Shenanigans, dam of the immortal Ruffian (by Reviewer) and of the good racer and sire Icecapade (by Nearctic), as well as the good stakes winner Buckfinder (by Buckpasser). Shenanigans also produced Laughter (by Bold Ruler), whose five stakes winners include 1988 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner Private Terms (by Private Account).
Longford and her siblings are out of Bold Irish (by Fighting Fox), also the dam of Blarney Castle (by Nasrullah), who is the third dam of two-time French champion Green Forest. Another daughter of Bold Irish, Castle Hyde (by Tulyar), is the dam of stakes winner Ramhyde (by Rambunctious) and the third dam of 1992 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pine Bluff and 1987 Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) winner Demons Begone. In addition, Bold Irish is the dam of stakes-placed Leix (by Turn-to), dam of three stakes winners including 1966 Astarita Stakes winner Irish County (by Swaps) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Pok Ta Pok, and of Irish Trip (by Globemaster), dam of multiple stakes winner Dungarven (by Triple Bend).
Last updated: February 24, 2022
Race record
18 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 3 thirds, US$106,702
1969:
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Great American Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Aqueduct)
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1969, 9 pounds below champion Silent Screen.
As an individual
A small, powerfully made bay horse, Irish Castle had a good hind leg but was rather long-backed and heavy in his forehand; he also had offset knees. He did his best running from off the pace.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Irish Castle sired 318 winners (58.2%) and 33 stakes winners (6.0%) from 546 named foals.
Notable progeny
Bold Forbes (USA), Irish Playboy (USA), Priceless Fame (USA), The Fog (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dunbeath (USA), Saratoga Six (USA), Tibullo (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Irish Castle was bred and owned by Wheatley Stable. He was trained by Eddie Neloy. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1972 at The Stallion Station, which later became Pillar Stud. He was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in June 1991.
Pedigree notes
Irish Castle is inbred 3x4 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the race course. He is also inbred 5x5 to Nearco's paternal grandsire Phalaris (also a two-time champion sire on the combined English/Irish list) and to three-time English/Irish champion sire Blandford. He is a full brother to 1974 Matron Stakes (USA-G1) winner Alpine Lass, whose granddaughter Dollar's Persia was a champion sprinter in Holland. Alpine Lass is also the second dam of Grade 3 winner Delineator. Returning to Irish Castle, he is also a full brother to Irish Manor, dam of 1985 Display Handicap (USA-G3) winner Erin Bright (by Majestic Light) and third dam of 2008 Panamanian champion imported older female Sophia Slew and Australian Group 2 winner Barbaricus.
Irish Castle was produced from Castle Forbes, the American co-champion juvenile filly of 1963. Her dam Longford (by Menow) is a half sister to 1959 Sysonby Handicap winner The Irishman (by Nasrullah), multiple stakes winner Knocklofty (by Parnassus) and 1975 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Shenanigans, dam of the immortal Ruffian (by Reviewer) and of the good racer and sire Icecapade (by Nearctic), as well as the good stakes winner Buckfinder (by Buckpasser). Shenanigans also produced Laughter (by Bold Ruler), whose five stakes winners include 1988 Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1) winner Private Terms (by Private Account).
Longford and her siblings are out of Bold Irish (by Fighting Fox), also the dam of Blarney Castle (by Nasrullah), who is the third dam of two-time French champion Green Forest. Another daughter of Bold Irish, Castle Hyde (by Tulyar), is the dam of stakes winner Ramhyde (by Rambunctious) and the third dam of 1992 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pine Bluff and 1987 Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) winner Demons Begone. In addition, Bold Irish is the dam of stakes-placed Leix (by Turn-to), dam of three stakes winners including 1966 Astarita Stakes winner Irish County (by Swaps) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Pok Ta Pok, and of Irish Trip (by Globemaster), dam of multiple stakes winner Dungarven (by Triple Bend).
Last updated: February 24, 2022