Well it was certainly a wet and wind swept day for one of the major social events of the year, the Budweiser Irish Derby, at the Curragh racecourse. As expected, High Chapparral, the aidan O'Brien trained horse, romped home to win the Derby prize of €1,300,000. Also winning the Epsom Derby recently, he becomes the fiftheenth horse to complete the Epsom - Derby double win.
The other major event of the day was of course the prizes for best dressed ladies. Sponsored by Powerscourt Townhouse, the judging was assisted by stylist Sonia Molich. Pocketing vouchers worth €3,000 was Michelle Clifford from Cork, who wore a pink dress from Karen millen, with a feather in her hair. Tara O'Leary, also from Cork, came second place and Howth lady Chanelle McCarthy came third.
Among those drinking the endless supply of free Budweiser, wine and champagne were the BBC's Clare Balding, former Boyzone lads Keith Duffy and Stephen Gately, footballer Dwight Yorke and sundry politicians, models, media moguls and pr babes, a veritable who's who of Irish society. Entertained by David Cassidy it certainly was a day to remember.
In fact, one of the aforementioned was so drunk that he proceeded to man handle a few girls and was taken away by the Gardai after several complaints were made.
