RACING HISTORY First Arc winner had Bohermeen connections

Just over 100 years ago, on Sunday 3rd October 1920, the first running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe took place at Longchamp with a connection to Bohermeen established in the first outing according to Stephen Ball of St Ultan’s Historical Society.

Some 80 years later another Bohermeen connection would be established when Johnny Murtagh would be successful in the big race with the John Oxx-trained Sinndar.

However, the inaugural race in 1920 was a tribute to the French soldiers who had served in the First World War.

The race over 2,400 metres (a mile-and-a-hlaf) was for thoroughbreds and would become one of the greatest horseracing and sporting events annually with many Irish successes over the years.

The winner of the first race in 1920 was Comrade ridden by an Australian rider from Melbourne, Frank Bullock, a world class jockey at that time who would go on to win the race a second time in 1922.

The local connection is with Oatlands House, Bohermeen which was home of renowned horse trainer Albert Lowry.

The Lowry horses all had Bachelors in the name after his father’s (Joseph Lowry) estate Bachelors Lodge which is located on the Navan to Kells road.

Comrade’s sire was a champion horse from Oatlands called Bachelors Double which amongst his great victories was the Irish Derby in 1909, the Royal Hunt Cup in 1910 and Jubilee Cup in 1911.

Bachelors Double was sold to the Bailey family of Rathbane Stud in Limerick in 1910, where he remained in stud for a fee of £99 until his demise in 1931 at the age of 24.

Comarde was purchased for 26 Guineas by Count Euremond de Saint-Alary who was a breeder of high class racing horses in Normandy.

His horses raced in England and France.

Comrade, foaled in 1917, won three races as a two-year-old and returned to France in 1920 to contest the inaugural Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

With Frank Bullock on board the duo won the first running of the event in a time of 2m: 39s for a purse of 155,000 French Francs.

Winning at Longchamp was to be a historical event and it would be 2000 before there would be another Bohermeen connection to the event.

Some 80 years later Bohermeen jockey Johnny Murtagh would win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe riding Sinndar for trainer John Oxx and the owner, the HH Aga Khan. The Murtagh family home in Bohermeen is close to where the former Oatlands Stud was located.

Thanks to Stephen Ball for the information.