The A-Z guide of Irish racecourses (Part 1)
Learn all about the 26 flat, jumps and all-weather courses in Ireland
Besides the racecourses that we’re familiar with in the UK – from Ascot to Aintree, Plumpton to Perth, Windsor to Warwick – there is of course a long and famous history of racing in Ireland.
And while many punters prefer to concentrate solely on mainland UK tracks…
There is no doubt that money (very good money in fact) can be made by having a working knowledge of the Irish racing scene – something proven by the highly successful >> Irish Cash Consortium.
So if you’ve not already checked out that service, make sure you do!
But in the meantime, here’s the first of a three part look at the racecourses which are to be found in the Emerald Isle – a total of 26 in all.
Below are the first 8, and then in subsequent posts (see the link at the bottom) we’ll work our way through the remainder of venues which make up a vibrant, and highly lucrative, area of racing that you’d be wise to consider when looking to make money from your betting.
So here we go with the first batch of racecourses which, in themselves, will take us the length and breadth of Ireland…
Ballinrobe
A thriving market town, a gateway to both Galway and Castlebar, the town of Ballinrobe lies around 50km north of Galway.
It has a long tradition of horseracing which dates back as far as 1774, with the current track at Keel Bridge being used since 1921.
Ballinrobe is a dual-purpose course for Flat and National Hunt racing. It’s a right-handed, sharp circuit of 1m 4f which favours horses that run prominently.
The Flat course is a 9f oval shape, with a run-in of just 2.5f. Usually over 5f and 6f you find high draws have a distinct advantage.
The National Hunt course is the same right-handed, oval course of 9f with a similar run-in. It consists of 4 hurdles and 6 fences on each circuit.
Ballinrobe plays host to 8 fixtures between May and September, the most notable of which is a 2-day July meeting which has the Tote Handicap as its feature.
Bellewstown
Bellewstown is around 30km north of Dublin, and around 8km south of Drogheda, situated on the Hill of Crockafotha in County Meath.
Point of fact, the village is named after Darren Bellew who led the villagers to revolt against the infamous O’Shulleabhan clan in 1407.
Another town with a long history of racing, the first publication regarding horseracing in Bellewstown can be found in the Dublin Gazette & Weekly Courier in 1726.
Bellewstown is a left-handed, sharp circuit of 1m 1f, with a 3f uphill finish. It hosts both both National Hunt and Flat racing.
The Flat course is an oval shape measuring 9f where a low draw has an advantage in sprints.
The National Hunt course is the same left-handed oval, also run over 9f with the same run-in. There are 5 hurdles on the circuit.
The course stages two annual festivals, one in first week of July and the other at the end of August with the Mullacurry Cup Handicap Hurdle being their main race of the season.
Clonmel
Clonmel is the largest town in County Tipperary, located in the south of Ireland. It lies on the northern bank of the River Suir, which flows from Tipperary to Waterford. The name “Clonmel” literally means ”honey meadow” or “honey vale” – coming from the richness of the soil in this very fertile location.
The town, which sits in the province of Munster, has a rich history, most noted for its resistance against Oliver Cromwell’s army (1649-53).
Powerstown Park is the horseracing venue for Clonmel Racecourse, 4km from the town centre, where horseracing dates back to 1913.
Like many Irish courses, it hosts both Flat and National Hunt racing. It’s a right-handed undulating circuit of 1m 2f, with an uphill finish of around 2-3f.
The Flat course is an oval shape of 1m 2f… same goes for the National Hunt course, where there are 6 hurdles and 7 jumps on the circuit.
Clonmel is one of the busiest tracks in the country, holding 12 meetings between February and December.
Cork
In the province of Munster, Cork is the largest county in the Republic of Ireland.
Cork boarders 4 counties – Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary & Waterford, and has several picturesque mountain ranges, the highest point being Knockboy (706m) on the Shehy Mountains.
Cork has an impressive coastline with beaches and sea cliffs and peninsulas including Beara, Sheep’s Head, Mizen Head and Brow Head.
The first steeplechase – between to churches steeples, from Buttervant to Donerail – took place in 1752, down the road from Mallow.
Modern day racing in Cork re-started in 1924, located in Mallow, around 30km north of the town itself.
The track stages both Flat and National Hunt racing fixtures, with a right-handed level, galloping track of 1m 2f.
A popular venue, Cork has 18 meetings scheduled on its calendar each season. Their major races include the Munster Oaks and the Give Thanks Stakes (Flat) the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase (Jumps).
Curragh
“The Curragh” is located in County Kildare. It’s actually between the towns of Newbridge and Kildare, to the west of Dublin (around 55km).
The Curragh is synonymous with Irish horse breeding and training.
Popularly known as ”The Curragh” it’s the most important racecourse in Ireland. In actual fact, the meaning of the name literally means ”place of running horses”.
The first recorded fixture took place in 1727. However, racing was held on the site long before this date.
These days the course is recognised for a number of Flat races including – Irish 1000 & 2000 Guineas, plus the Irish Derby, Oaks and St. Leger (in total 10 of the 12 Group 1’s in Ireland take place here).
The Curragh is used exclusively for Flat racing and is a horseshoe-shaped course with a circuit of 2 miles, and a steep uphill run in of 3f.
The sprint distances over 5f-6f is straight, with a low draw is favoured… while high numbers have the ascendancy on the longer, round course.
Down Royal
The course is located near the city of Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and is around 25km south-west of Belfast.
Racing has taken place at this site (Maze, near Lisburn) since the 18th Century on land donated by Arthur Hill, the 1st Marquis of Downshire. But, to be more precise, horseracing goes back to the days of King James II (1685) when the Royal Charter formed the Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders.
Although in Northern Ireland, and so technically in the United Kingdom, horseracing at Down Royal comes under the jurisdiction of Horse Racing Ireland
It’s a right-handed undulating, galloping track with a 1m 7f circuit, incorporating a testing 4f uphill finish.
Down Royal hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing.
The Flat course is a square, right-handed galloping track of almost 2 miles. It features a downhill run-in to the straight, and an uphill finish to the line.
The National Hunt course uses the same layout and features 10 fences on the chase course, and 8 hurdles on the circuit.
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is located about 30km from Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is also the reputed burial place (within the town’s cathedral) of St. Patrick – the patron saint of Ireland.
The course plays host to both forms of racing, Flat and National Hunt.
The Flat course is a right-handed oval. An undulating course, it is just over 11f for the full circuit, with a short 1f uphill run-in to the line.
The National Hunt course follows the same layout, with typically 5 hurdles and 7 fences on each circuit.
Dundalk
Dundalk is situated in County Louth, in the Republic of Ireland.
The town is actually near the border with Northern Ireland, lying between Dublin and Belfast in the province of Leinster.
Both horseracing and greyhound racing have been held at Dundalk Stadium, which was Ireland’s first all-weather race track (opened in 2007).
Being an all-weather track, the racing here is purely flat – the turf course was closed in 2001.
The course is left-handed, covering 19f with a run-in is 2.5f that features a slight uphill finish. Low draws are an advantage over 5f-6f.
Next time we’re off to we’re off to several courses which make up the beating heart of Irish racing, both flat as well as jumps racing… along with a seaside course that is unique among racecourses in the UK and Ireland.
So to continue this journey around some of the best racing locations that you can watch racing (and win money!) make sure you click here to read Part 2 of this A-Z Guide of Irish Racecourses.
