Gallic League was the offspring of Welsh Saint and Red Rose Bowl who were also bred from known thoroughbred horses such as St Paddy, the winner of the 1960 Epsom Derby.
He was from the penultimate crop of foals sired by the horse Welsh Saint, who recorded his biggest win in the 1970 edition of the Cork and Orrery Stakes. Gallic League's dam, Red Rose Bowl, won over seven furlongs as a two-year-old in Ireland in 1982. 
Welsh Saint St Paddy Red Rose Bowl In the Derby on 1 June at Epsom he was ridden by Lester Piggott and started at odds of 7/1. He was prominent from the start, took the lead three furlongs from the finish and was never in danger, winning easily by three lengths from Alcaeus with Kythnos third. 
