The A-Z guide of Irish racecourses (Part 2)
Learn all about the 26 flat, jumps and all-weather courses in Ireland
We’ve already started to look at the first batch of Irish racecourses (click here to read Part 1) where we learned about the likes of Ballinrobe, Downpatrick, Cork and, of course, The Curragh. Along the way taking in historic venues located in both Northern Ireland as well as the Republic.
For the next instalment of racecourses we focus our attention solely south of the border, visiting a diverse number of racecourses spread far and wide across the Emerald Isle.
And remember, whilst it’s great to read and learn about Irish racing, it’s much more fun to be betting (and winning!) on it as well… and for that you really do need to check out the Irish Cash Consortium. This is a highly successful betting service which deals with all aspects of Irish racing and has banked a huge profit for members. Make sure you take a look!
But first we’ll carry on with our journey around Ireland, and we’ll begin with one of the more well-known tracks…
Fairyhouse
Fairyhouse is situated near the town of Ratoath in County Meath, approximately 20km miles north of Dublin.
The venue stages both Flat and National Hunt racing, but is probably best known for its Easter Festival, which features two of the most important races – the Ryanair Gold Cup and the Irish Grand National.
The National Hunt course at Fairyhouse is a right-handed square, 1m 6f in length, with 11 fences to a circuit. The course is wide, galloping in nature and does not, generally, favour one type of horse over another.
The Flat course shares the same profile as the jumps circuit and is suited to all types of runners. However, horses that like to race on, or close, to the pace tend to fare best at Fairyhouse. Hold-up horses, especially those drawn low, on the far side, in races over 6f-7f can find themselves short of room next to the rail in the home straight, in which case luck in running is important.
Galway
Galway Racecourse is located in the village of Ballybrit in County Galway, in the west of Ireland.
In actual fact, the racecourse stages just three meetings (12 days) racing, each year, but is synonymous with the Galway Summer Festival, one of the most celebrated race meetings in the calendar.
This is staged over 7 days in late July and early August, coinciding with the August Bank Holiday in Ireland. The festival is a mix of both Flat and National Hunt racing – with the feature races being the Galway Hurdle and the Galway Plate.
The National Hunt chase course at Galway is a right-handed, undulating diamond, just over a 1m 2f in length, with 7 fences to a circuit and a 2f, uphill run-in. The hurdle course, which is situated inside the chase course, is sharper in character, with 6 hurdles to a circuit and a shorter run-in, of just over 1f.
Galway is a deceptively difficult course to ride around, and to ride, so it is no surprise that course specialists are readily spotted. It tends to favour horses that are ridden prominently and consequently, races are typically run at a decent pace, so Galway is no place for horses with stamina concerns!
Gowran Park
The course is located just a kilometre south of the town of Gowran, situated in the east of County Kilkenny. It’s around 120km to the south of Dublin.
Gowran Park Racecourse has been home to horseracing since June 1914, when both Flat and National Hunt races were on the card.
Gowran Park Racecourse still hosts both codes of racing and is considered one of the most important dual-purpose tracks in Ireland – there are more than a dozen fixtures here throughout the year.
The Flat course at Gowran is a right-handed oval of around 1m 4f, and while there are some undulations, it is essentially a galloping track. The final run-in is a 3f straight, which can be quite testing. Any advantage low-numbered stalls have is small if not negligible.
The National Hunt course is a similar 1m 4f oval. There are 7 fences to a circuit of the chase course, which is on the outside of the hurdles track, with three situated in the three-furlong uphill home straight. The run-in is around 1f.
Kilbeggan
Kilbeggan Racecourse is situated in the town of the same name in County Westmeath, in the Midlands Region of central Ireland, approximately 90km due west of Dublin.
Only used during the summer months, and mainly for evening racing, Kilbeggan stages 8 National Hunt fixtures a year, between April and September.
The main highlight of the calendar is the Midlands National Handicap Chase, run over 3m 1f, and staged in July each year.
The National Hunt chase course at Kilbeggan is a right-handed, undulating circle, about 1m 1f in circumference, with 6 fences to a circuit and a short, uphill 1f run-in. It’s a tight, sharp circuit much to the disadvantage of big, one-paced, stayers.
The hurdle course, which is laid out concentrically, inside the chase course, features just 5 hurdles a circuit and is sharper still – meaning runners that tend to do well at Kilbeggan are agile, nippy and well-balanced types, who like to race on, or close to, the pace. It’s another quirky track that throws up a lot of course specialists.
Killarney
Commonly known as Ireland’s most scenic racecourse, Killarney Racecourse is situated just a kilometre south of the picturesque town Killarney, way down in the south-west of Ireland.
The course has views overlooking the grounds of Ross Castle and was opened in 1936.
Killarney hosts both Flat and National Hunt racing, with most fixtures taking place in the evening. The Kingdom Gold Cup is the richest race on offer through its four-day August festival, with the Ruby Stakes also attracting some big names.
The Flat course is a left-handed oval of just over 9f. It is a sharp track, with the first bend after the winning post being particularly tight. There are no races at 1m or less, meaning there’s little evidence of any significant draw bias.
The National Hunt course at Killarney is an undulating, left-handed oval track, and is just a shade longer than the flat circuit. It’ still sharp in character, with 6 fences to a circuit on the chase course and a run-in of around 1f.
Laytown
Laytown is situated in County Meath, in eastern Ireland, approximately 30km north of Dublin, overlooking the Irish Sea.
For most of the year, Laytown is a simple seaside resort, but every September a stretch of sand on the beach – known as the “Laytown Strand” – becomes one of the most unusual racing venues in the world. In other words, the horses race on the beach!
Laytown Strand Races (which started in 1868) consist of 6 races, each restricted to a maximum of 10 runners, and ridden by experienced jockeys, on a straight, level course.
For the last 25+ years, all the races are limited to just 6f-7f. Prior to 1995, races were staged over distances between 5f furlongs and 2m, but due to safety issues, the length of races is now restricted.
In terms of racing, wet sand rides on the firm side, so Laytown can be ideal for horses who favour fast going.
Leopardstown
Leopardstown Racecourse is situated in Foxrock, in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County, on the east coast of Ireland, approximately 12km south-east of Dublin.
The venue stages 23 meetings, under both codes, throughout the year and is arguably Ireland’s premier racecourse.
In terms of National Hunt racing, Leopardstown hosts 14 Grade One races over hurdles and fences, half of which are staged during its annual Christmas Festival.
Also, in 2018, the Dublin Racing Festival was created by amalgamating three one-day fixtures, previously staged in January and February – it features the Irish Champion Hurdle and the Irish Gold Cup.
The seasonal highlight for flat racing is the Irish Champion Stakes Day in September.
The National Hunt chase course at Leopardstown is wide, left-handed oval, approximately 1m 6f in circumference. It has 10 ten, fairly stiff fences and a short home straight, roughly 3f in length. The inner hurdles course, with 7 hurdles to a circuit, is sharper in character than the chase course and tends to favour horses that race on, or close to, the pace.
On the Flat course, the 6-furlong start is positioned close to the bend at the end of the back straight, so a low draw is advantageous.
Limerick
The city is located on the River Shannon in west Ireland, some 200km across country from Dublin.
Limerick Racecourse was opened in 2001, as a replacement for the historic Greenpark Racecourse, which lay nearer the city centre and was closed in 1999. In point of fact, Limerick has the distinction of being the newest turf racecourse in the country and, nowadays, stages 18 Flat and National Hunt fixtures throughout the year.
Twilight meetings staged, under both codes, at Limerick Racecourse in May, June, July and August are extremely popular, but the annual highlight is the four-day Christmas Festival, including the Grade Two Greenmount Park Novice Chase.
The National Hunt course is a right-handed oval, approximately 1m 3f in circumference, with 7 fairly stiff fences to a circuit and a run-in of approximately 1f. The course is essentially galloping in character with a 3f run-in which is slightly uphill for the last 2f.
The Flat course is the same length as the chase circuit, with a steep climb on the latter half of the back straight, before a downhill run on the approach to the finishing straight. This tends to favour front runners when the going is on the fast side.
Listowel
Listowel Racecourse is situated in the town of the same name, in County Kerry, in the south-west of Ireland very close to the Atlantic coastline
Listowel stages just 9 days racing a year, divided into a two-day meeting on the June Bank Holiday weekend and a week-long meeting, known as the Listowel Harvest Festival.
The undisputed highlight of the Harvest Festival is the “Kerry National” Handicap Chase, a Grade 1 chase run over 3m and worth €200,000 in added prize money.
The National Hunt course at Listowel is a left-handed oval, approximately 1m 2f in circumference, with 6 or 7 stiff fences to a circuit, and a run-in of less than 1f. The course is sharp in character, and Listowel tends to favour speedy types who race handily – more so with a short finishing straight.
On the Flat, the tightness of the course, coupled with the undulations, means that a low draw and tactical pace are advantageous if the going is on the fast side. However, if the going becomes testing, the draw is less important, but an abundance of stamina is required to cope with the uniquely heavy going at Listowel.
Next time we complete our trip around the 26 racecourse of Ireland, where again our focus will be on Eire and the various courses that are to be found in the south of 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 3 of this A-Z Guide of Irish Racecourses.
