It records the development of its sporting heritage in the wider context of Irish history including during the 1916 Rising when a significant amount of the British army and police were in attendance at Fairyhouse, oblivious to what was happening in the centre of Dublin.
The story is told with passion, emotion and humour by those most associated with Ireland’s most historic jumps race, including generations of racing families such as Carberry, Dreaper, Moore, Mullins, Taaffee and Walsh. Other names who share their personal accounts are Richard Dunwoody and David Elsworth.
There was a time when ladies were forbidden to ride and train racehorses and the show explores this and meets Ann Ferris, first winning lady rider in this race and Jenny Pitman first winning lady trainer.
It features many outstanding steeplechasers as well as horses that have taken their place in Sports Folklore, such as Arkle, Desert Orchid and Brown Lad.
The feature length documentary also traces the origin of the famous sport and re-enacts the world’s first recorded steeplechase, when two gentlemen challenged each other to a race between the church steeples of Buttevant and Doneraile, Cork, in 1752, hence the name steeplechasing.
Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.
For sale on DVD - also available in NTSC format for America and Canada.
