Irish Derby Winner Law Society Dies

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Law Society, winner of Ireland’s greatest classic event, has died at Gestut Isarland in Germany, according to the Racing Post. The 29-year-old son of Alleged had been pensioned since 2008.

Law Society was bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish, owner of Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky., and W.S. Kilroy. Law Society was purchased at the 1983 Keeneland July yearling sale for $2.7 million by the Irish branch of the British Bloodstock Agency from Big Sink-Lane’s End, Associated Farms.

Sent to Europe to race, Law Society recorded his greatest victory in the 1985 Joe McGrath Irish Sweeps Derby (Ire-I) for owner Stavros Niarchos and trainer Vincent O’Brien. He also captured that year’s Dalham Chester Vase (Eng-III) and ran second in the Ever Ready Epsom Derby (Eng-I).

As a 2-year-old, Law Society won the BBA Goffs National Stakes (Ire-II) and the Ballsbridge-Tattersalls Anglesey Stakes (Ire-III) and ran second in the William Hill Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-I).

Law Society, who was an Irish champion both years he raced, retired with five wins from eight starts and earnings of $373,487. He first stood at Coolmore Stud in Ireland and then at Gestut Isarland starting in the 1990s.

His 55 stakes winners include several European champions and several North American graded stakes winners, including Approach the Bench, winner of the 1994 Eddie Read Handicap (gr. IT). Another of his North American runners, the filly Electric Society, won the 1996 Diana Handicap (gr. IIT) at Saratoga.

Law Society is one of five stakes winners out of the stakes-winning Boldnesian mare Bold Bikini, a half sister to 1968 champion 2-year-old male Top Knight. 
 
 

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