There are 26 racecourses in Ireland, each of which offers something different. Run over a minimum of 2 miles, National Hunt races require the horses to clear a number of obstacles. The Curragh only stages flat racing, while Punchestown is used solely for National Hunt racing. The closure of betting shops, both here and in UK, means there is also an impact on media rights income even if racing does resume. If you want to see the very best thoroughbred horses then targeting a meeting with a Group 1 (flat) or Grade 1 (jump racing) is the best way to go. It may be cheaper to exchange currency in cash before heading to Ireland. John Breslin. Subscribe FREE Today! All four Classics take place here, the Irish Derby, Irish Oaks, Irish 2000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas. All of these are celebrated occasions and see countless people cram into the paddocks to see who completes the circuit fastest. Ireland has a rich history of horse racing, with official sporting contests dating back to the mid seventeenth century. How much are you prepared to pay for admission to the course although most are very reasonably priced. Leopardstown (8 miles from the city centre), Fairyhouse (18 miles from the city centre), Punchestown (24 miles from the city centre in co Kildare), Curragh (33 miles from the city centre in co Kildare), Leopardstown (flat racing and national hunt/jumps), Down Royal (flat racing and national hunt/jumps). "[13], Racing became more competitive with the introduction, in 1666, under King Charles II, of the King's Plate Races,[11][14] designed so as to favour a fast yet strong horse, capable of winning a 4-mile race with a weight load of 12 stone. However, Kavanagh expressed particular concern for provincial tracks. [50] The majority of racecourses are turf, with Dundalk being the only floodlit all-weather polytrack. It is both their social and racing highlight of the year, often drawing a handsome crowd partly due to the town being a great tourism destination. As racing can be a fun day out, many people like to attend in fancy dress, especially if tying in a day at the races with a stag or hen party. As a family, we have always loved the racing and went to Haydock races as kids, as often as we could. In 2016, the total prize money awarded was 56.8 million. With 391 Irish race meetings in 2023 you can experience the fun, atmosphere and excitement of attending a horse racing track in Ireland with the calendar season running from 1st January 2023 to the 31st December 2023. Curragh Racecourse, Co. Kildare. Since the 1960s, five courses have closed their gates for the last time with Mullingar, Baldoyle, Tuam, the Phoenix Park and Tralee joining the long list of former courses. [56][52][57][53], The main races in the Irish horseracing calendar are the Irish Derby, the Irish Champion Stakes, the Irish Oaks, the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Irish 2,000 Guineas. June 26 Curragh, Tipperary (NH) June 27 Curragh. All racetracks have different characteristics. Leopardstown, Naas and Cork are three of several racecourses in Ireland that host both jumps and flat racing action. On this page, you'll find our guides to all the Irish racecourses, including track history and characteristics, draw bias info, and vital trainer and jockey statistics. Here are the racecourses closest to Dublin: This does not, in any way, diminish the qualities of other racecourses in Ireland. Holders of that stock are looking at value diminishing in front of their eyes. [10][59][65] A recurring part of Irish culture, the horse has been romanticised in art and literature for many centuries. They created what we know today as the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board but the first name the group took was the Society of Sportsmen before changing into the Irish Jockey Club and then the Turf Club in 1784. Previously, Downpatrick was home to both Flat and National Hunt racing. Racing resumed at Tralee in October 1946 and fast forward a few decades and some famous horses won at the course on the way to more notable triumphs. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: gamcare.org.uk (UK), 800gambler.org (US), or gamblinghelponline.org.au (Australia). To this day, the Turf Club and HRI (Horse Racing Ireland) regulates Irish racing. How Many Racecourses are There in Ireland? The Republic of Ireland is especially horse racing mad and as we have noted it is here where the vast majority of the Emerald Isles tracks are found. Know when to Stop. Domestically, racing is one of Ireland's most popular spectator sports, while on the international scene, Ireland is one of the strongest producers and trainers of Thoroughbred horses. The Curragh is a flat only course whilst Kilbeggan, Thurles, Wexford and Downpatrick hold only National Hunt racing. There are lots of options when looking to bet at an Irish racecourse, including on the course itself with independents (in Ireland, horse racing bookmakers are known as being some of the most fun and dynamic in the world) but check out the best current online bookies below or read more here in our in-depth guide best Irish betting sites or the great betting sites below: As the Co-Founder of British Racecourses, I love the chance to share my enjoyment of racing with others. "What worries me is the investment of people in different layers of the industry, be it point-to-point people, the breeze-up people or people with foals to bring to the market in the autumn. [11][24] Although an independent body, on occasion it referred disputes to the English Jockey Club. A bunch of keen racing enthusiasts met in Dublins Rose and Bottle Inn down Dame Street to thrash out the details. Its activities also include the monitoring of equine diseases and dissemination of veterinary information to its members. The seven-day Galway Races take place next week and racecourse manager Michael Moloney says the cost of not having fans in attendance at Ballybrit is likely to be in excess of one-million Euro. Winning 27 of the 35 races he entered, Arkle remains a national hero. This is partly down to plentiful rain the island of Ireland gets, keeping the ground soft enough for NH racing even in the summer months. "I'd be very worried about the racecourses," Kavanagh said. The speed of progress was aided by the interest King Charles II had in racing as he sponsored several Kings Plate races which tended to come with a sizeable purse. The racecourse was temporarily closed at the end of the 1981 flat season but was reopened in 1983 with a consortium which included well-known owner Robert Sangster and champion trainer Vincent OBrien taking over the running of the track. Even on flat tracks like the Curragh, getting a good draw can be crucial. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that the Irish love their horses and their racing but that simple fact illustrates it perfectly. Dublin remains hugely popular with tourists though, so you may be able to tie in a race meeting with a general city break if you are crossing the Irish sea or coming from further afield. Two owners per horse will be allowed to attend. [41][42][43], There are 26 major racecourses in Ireland,[44][45][46][47][32] more per head of population than any other country,[48] with more than 350 race meetings and 2,000 races annually. RACECOURSES: HERE TODAY AND GONE TOMORROW. [81][80] In January 2018 a new organisation, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, will become the regulatory body for horse racing in Ireland. In total it offers over 15 high-quality jump racing fixtures each year, all taking place on a top-class course that offers runners a fair but reasonably challenging test of their ability. For so many years, Ireland has been a dominant force on the world's racing stage, enjoying . [4][6][7][8] There are later mentions of "horse matches" in Galway in the 13th century under the "Kings Plate Articles". Irish racecourses are visited by over 1.3m people every year and their races are broadcast all over the world, thus creating quite a large fan base. [60], There are over 6,000 registered breeders in the country, 93% of which have fewer than 5 broodmares. The first equestrian events in the area took place in 1685, and the venue that stands today was built over 150 years ago. If you are someone that loves the thrill of jumps racing, this lengthy battle will be right up your street. It is not until you reach the 1600s though that you get more substantial evidence of proper horse racing taking place on Irish soil in a form that we would recognise it today. The ideal place to watch horse racing would be on your television, in the comfort of your own home. Seven days for a festival is extremely long yet enthusiasm never seems to wane during this fantastic occasion that is full of different ways of entertaining the crowd. In a letter to King Charles II, he described horses as a drug in Ireland. The focus is on the bigger national health picture at the moment, Kavanagh said. June 24 Naas, Roscommon (NH) June 25 Fairyhouse. In 2020, the Irish Derby boasted 2.25m in prize money. [60], Dennis Fitzpatrick was the first professional Irish jockey to race in England, particularly noted for taking part in match races towards the turn of the 19th century,[69] beginning a long history of professional Irish jockeys in the United Kingdom. Since the 1960s, five courses have closed their gates for the last time with Mullingar, Baldoyle, Tuam, the Phoenix Park and Tralee joining the long list of former courses. non-offensive fancy dress) apply. [20][22] The early steeplechases offered little more than an agreed-upon landmarks as start and finish points, with the riders free to choose their own path, but later races used a line of flags to indicate a determined course. For a few years before its closure the Tuam course had a race in honour of 1958 Aintree Grand National winner Mr What. Of course, some did, but there are many sites that failed to stick around for a long time, whether due to lack of interest, lack of funding, or unsuitable ground. If you look at a Deloitte report we did in 2018, it showed the income of racecourses back in 2016 was 52 million. Technically, however, Dundalk is considered among the category of Northern Irish racecourses. Officials within HRI are preparing to furnish an April 1conference call board meeting with recommendations and data as emergency strategies are being explored to shore up an entire industry with an estimated economic value of almost 2 billion. The first recorded meeting at Curragh took in 1727, but horses would race on this site before records began to be kept. 23 of these are in Southern Ireland and 3 racecourses in Northern Ireland. The oldest racecourse in Southern Ireland is the Curragh although Down Royal in Northern Ireland pre-dates this venue. The victims . Rather than racing on grass, horses at Laytown compete on sand as its temporary track is set up on the seafront, but under normal IHRB rules. [54][55] Unaffiliated races are frequently held at many locations throughout the country. Well help you find the perfect course for your needs. Winning these races made horses very sought after for breeding purposes so there could be additional income raised through stud money. [10][59] More than 80% of these Irish-bred Thoroughbreds are exported to 37 countries, generating an estimated 229 million per year;[60][61] nearly 80% of these exports are to Great Britain. Can I Wear Fancy Dress to Racecourse in Ireland? There are two main racing tracks in Northern Ireland Downpatrick and Down Royal. As discussed, every site has its own charm and range of benefits. The last time owners were permitted on racecourses in Ireland was in September of 2020. For an alternative but very similar race, Fairyhouse, located close to Dublin, holds the Irish Grand National every easter Monday and this too never manages to disappoint. Jump racing at Punchestown (first recorded in 1824) became a permanent fixture in 1860 when stands and enclosures were erected and many other racecourses soon followed. [86][48], The Association of Irish Racecourse Owners (AIR) was established in 1964 to further the interests of racecourses and represent their owners. The ban led to public outcry, especially in Ireland where some 20,000 people were believed to be employed in the embattled racing industry. The ancient text Togail Bruidne D Derga makes reference to the Curragh being the site of some chariot racing during the time of Conaire Mr, who had been a ruling monarch sometime between 110BC and 60 AD. On top of commercial income, which also includes catering and a slice of on-course betting turnover, the vital media rights money, believed to be worth about 30 million a year to tracks, is cut while betting shops are closed. Obviously we are trying to protect jobs if we can but that will become more difficult the longer the break is. Place your FIRST bet on any ChNew customers only. In addition to music performances and the excitement of the high-class Galway Plate, this festival also gives you the perfect excuse to dress up extra smartly. For a completely unique racing experience, you will want to get yourself down to Laytown Racecourse for their annual meeting (usually in September). Many followers of the sport felt sadness after the last meeting in 1972. Equally, racing meetings are a huge social occasion with people from all walks of life coming together. How many racecourses are there in Ireland? Incidentally, this ambitious project was completed exactly two decades after the course spent 7m on developing the main grandstand and enclosure. [26] The first racing festival at the Ballybrit racecourse took place in the following year, with a reported 40,000 spectators in attendance. Breeding of racehorses is also a big moneyspinner in Ireland, as the country produces some of the finest colts and fillies in the world. However, these two racecourses are also complemented by Farmacaffley and the Dundalk Stadium. Captain Christy, Dawn Run, Vintage Crop and Montys Pass are among the big race winners who entered the winners enclosure at Ballybeggan Park. Some venues may offer cheap tickets, or do discounted prices for pensioners, students etc. One of the main functions is the provision of stewards to implement Rules of Racing during races. Photo: Morgan Treacy/Inpho. This flat racing event is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds (colts and fillies), and it takes place at the Curragh racecourse in late June every year. With the action taking place on a public beach, virtually all facilities (which are very limited) are only set up for the meeting and are dismantled straight afterwards. Take a look at the information that we have provided and choose which day at the races, or horse racing festival, you would like to attend. Check out the information that we have provided on each location and choose which event or festival youd like to attend. Download Today's Edition If you have a sharp two year old, and youre looking at selling that in July or August, youve missed the boat, he said. (iii) Outside of the stated dates the cards at many meetings included pony, Galloway, or even foot, races and are not included in the dates. These are then exported around the globe to compete in a variety of international meetings. 5. Horse Racing Ireland recognises the following racecourses: [46] Ulster Downpatrick Down Royal Munster Clonmel Cork Killarney Limerick Listowel Thurles Tipperary Tramore Leinster Bellewstown The Curragh Dundalk Fairyhouse Gowran Park Kilbeggan Laytown Leopardstown Naas Navan Punchestown Wexford Connacht Ballinrobe Ballybrit (Galway) Roscommon The Earliest and Final dates for meetings stated on this site are open to interpretation for the following reasons:- The subsidiaries are the four racecourses, the Tote and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, and the threat of significant job losses looms over each. The course closed in 1963, the same year as Manchester, where despite running steeplechases since 1872 (and Flat racing long before that), the lure of monies for housing development was too much to refuse. 1 With mass gatherings of over 5,000 cancelled until September, there will be no spectators going racing while sponsorship and other income streams are also hit.

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