The Irish 1,000 Guineas is the equivalent of the English Classic Race, the 1,000 Guineas Stakes, and like its inspirational event the race is open only to three-year-old fillies. Taking place annually in May, at Curragh Racecourse, commonly referred to simply as 'The Curragh', the Irish 1,000 Guineas often feature fillies who ran in the 1,000 Guineas Stakes earlier in the season. Fillies to do well in the Irish 1,000 Guineas often move on to start in the Coronation Stakes in June.
Introduced in 1922 -one year after the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the equivalent race for three-year-old colts -, the Irish 1,000 Guineas is held over one clean mile and attract some of the finest female juvenile thoroughbreds of the season. On several occasions the Irish 1,000 Guineas were won by fillies already victorious in the 1,000 Guineas Stakes on English soil. The latest example for such an impressive double win was Finsceal Beo, who rocked the tracks in 2007. With horses of this calibre entering the race and a purse of €400,000, it is no surprise that the Irish 1,000 Guineas is now one of the most popular fixtures on the Irish racing schedule.
Legends of the track include four outstanding jockeys - Michael Kinane, Walter Swinburn, Christy Roche and Ron Hutchinson - all of whom rode three winners at the Irish 1,000 Guineas throughout their careers. The most successful trainer to compete at the Irish 1,000 Guineas is currently Paddy Prendergast who, between 1950 and 1978, trained five winners of the event.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
| 2010 | Bethra |
Pat Smullen |
Dermot Weld |
1:37.49 |
| 2009 | Again |
Johnny Murtagh |
David Wachman |
1:46.34 |
| 2008 | Halfway To Heaven |
Seamus Heffernan |
Aidan O'Brien |
1:40.82 |
| 2007 | Finsceal Beo |
Kevin Manning |
Jim Bolger |
1:39.30 |
| 2006 | Nightime |
Pat Smullen |
Dermot Weld |
1:48.30 |
| 2005 | Saoire |
Michael Kinane |
Frances Crowley |
1:41.50 |
