Owners had not been able to attend race meetings since March with the majority of sport being held behind closed doors. Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium (Waterford). 1. There are 26 racecourses in Ireland, each of which offers something different. They are effectively being run for the industry, for horses to have an outlet to run. Rather than opting for the traditional big meetings like the extremely prestigious Curragh Irish Derby Festival or Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival (Irelands answer to the Cheltenham Festival) we will look at some slightly less high-profile, but just as entertaining, alternatives. The busiest days of the festival are Wednesday, when the Galway Plate is held, and Thursday, when the Galway Hurdle and Ladies . That works well for racing fans; meetings are among the most popular sporting events in the Irish capital, and it is comparatively simple to reach Dublin through a range of transport means. After racing took place at a few courses in Tralee, the move to Ballybeggan Park was made in 1898, the new site formerly being a deer park owned by the family of Daniel OConnell. In 1945, the Racing Board was established specifically to deal with financing the sport and this helped increase racecourse investment and also prize money. [85][80], The Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO) is the official representative body for racehorse owners in Ireland, and has over 1,900 members. Lengths of races vary from course to course, and whether you are watching horses race on a flat track or negotiating jumps depends on the venue. The three most famous courses in Ireland, the ones that your average UK fan might well have heard of and that host the highest class meetings, are Punchestown, Leopardstown and Curragh (also referred to as the Curragh). Sales companies are having a complete look again at how they might operate in the future. So for every month closed, racecourses are losing 5 million. Dublin, Cork and Kildare, for example, all have plenty of options. What are the Best Racecourses in Ireland? 1 Both forms can be viewed throughout the calendar year too, rather than only having access to jumps action in the winter months and flat racing in the summer months. [83][84], The Irish Racehorse Trainers Association (IRTA) was founded in 1950 to represent licensed racehorse trainers in Ireland and, today, has a membership of almost 430 individuals. All four Classics take place here, the Irish Derby, Irish Oaks, Irish 2000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas. The subsidiaries are the four racecourses, the Tote and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, and the threat of significant job losses looms over each. It is a member of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, the European and Mediterranean Federation of Horseracing Authorities and the European Pattern Committee. Racecourses in Ireland. This makes for ideal conditions for breeding and raising racing horses for success. Know when to Stop. The inaugural six-day meeting at the Kerry town started on 10 August, 1767 and one of the races during that week, long, long ago, was an event for Kerry-bred horses. June 28 Curragh. Hely-Hutchinson holds the distinction of being the only jockey to ride Arkle on the racecourse and not win on the great horse. Mounting financial problems led to the closure of Mullingar Racecourse with the final meeting being held on Monday, July 1st, 1967. Even on flat tracks like the Curragh, getting a good draw can be crucial. The Galway Races (Irish: Rsa na Gaillimhe) is an Irish horse-racing festival that starts on the last Monday of July every year. The HRI has a number of responsibilities, including the management of the national Thoroughbred studbooks (registration with Weatherbys is also a requirement for all Irish Throughbreds[79]), the development and operation of a number of racecourses, and the authorisation of bookmaking and funding. The money you bet is critical to the country as a whole. That outing was in the Balbriggan Handicap Hurdle over two miles in April 1962, when the future champion finished down the field. 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For a few years before its closure the Tuam course had a race in honour of 1958 Aintree Grand National winner Mr What. Horse racing in Ireland has a very long history. [10][59][65] A recurring part of Irish culture, the horse has been romanticised in art and literature for many centuries. For many non-Irish nationals, Dublin is the beating heart of the country. This section provides a brief history of the course, but there will be descendants of the Local Patrons mentioned in the article who will be able to provide pictures of their ancestors and maybe even a picture of the racecourse, or have a badge or racecard from the course. Irish Racecourses - Alphabetical C Clonmel Co Tipperary A right handed undulating circuit of 1m 2f - the finish is uphill for 2 1/2f - jumps and flat racing. Racecourses and the events they host provide some 1.1 billion to the Irish economy each and every year. Whether or not the government eases social restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, or extends them past the current May 5th deadline, is expected to be announced later this week and racing is anxiously awaiting news of when it might be able to resume. Dead Heat Rules What Happens In The Event Of A Tie? At any day during the festival, you will enjoy a simply stunning view as Killarney Racecourse is hugely picturesque with its beautiful mountain backdrop. 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. Teachers will go on strike again today, meaning some schools in England and Northern Ireland will be partially or completely closed.. Teachers who are members of the National Education Union (NEU . Downpatrick is the oldest racecourse in Ireland, with an illustrious history to match such as a status. John Breslin. Locals here simply cannot get enough of the sport that has existed locally for centuries in an official capacity. The first meeting at Tuam was a four-day fixture and that was later increased to six days. close panel. The biggest event in Irish horse racing is the Irish Derby. [15][16] The Curragh was awarded its plate in the 1670s, followed by the establishment in 1685 of a studbook under the Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders to promote the breeding of racehorses. Translink has confirmed a number of . For this challenge horses have to tackle 16 fences, often on soft ground, across a distance exceeding three and a half miles. Trust us its an experience youll never forget. What is the Oldest Racecourse in Ireland? [17] The introduction of the Penal Laws, restricting Catholics to owning horses of a value less than 5, did little to deter horse owners, resulting in races limited to horses of that value. Download Today's Edition What section would you like to sit in the paddocks or a private box? With 24 courses currently in the Republic of Ireland and two courses in Northern Ireland it is not only a hugely popular spectator sport but also a global centre for breeding and training thoroughbreds. There was another closure 12 months later when the Tuam course in north Co. Galway held its final meeting, ending an association with horse racing dating back to October 1754. Likely losses at the 26 racecourses in Ireland for 2020 has been forecast at nearly 15 million in total due to lockdown and racing having to take place behind closed doors. 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. HRI RACECOURSES Leopardstown, Navan, Fairyhouse and Tipperary Racecourses HRI Racecourses Ltd is the arm of Horse Racing Ireland responsible for the running of its owned racecourses. [45][46][49] More than 1.3m people visit Irish racecourses each year,[46] with crowds in excess of 100,000 annually attending both the Punchestown Festival in April, and the Galway Races in July. Run over a minimum of 2 miles, National Hunt races require the horses to clear a number of obstacles. 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. [b] The minimum prize money per race in Ireland is currently (2017) set at 9,000, with the highest average prize money per race in Europe. Players must be 18 or over and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Punchestown is seen as the home of jump racing in the Republic of Ireland as it hosts a hefty portion of the leading jump races in the country. Previously, Downpatrick was home to both Flat and National Hunt racing. The land was sold to Galway Country Council in 1978. There are 26 racecourses in Ireland, each of which offers something different. Andrew Blair White explores the massive struggles this has caused for racecourses in Ireland. Photo: Morgan Treacy/Inpho. Fairyhouse, along with Leopardstown, Navan, and Tipperary, are controlled by HRI. Picking Winners: How To Study Horse Racing Form. In most cases it was lack of funding that had been the problem but in more modern times governments have been more aware of the positive impact racing has on the Irish economy. Dundalk is Ireland's only all-weather flat course and there's also flat racing on the beach at Laytown. Incidentally, this ambitious project was completed exactly two decades after the course spent 7m on developing the main grandstand and enclosure. Irish Racecourse Closures Underline Cost of Shutdown All sports are banned in Ireland until at least April 19 due to the COVID-19 crisis. Most courses in Ireland are mixed tracks holding both flat and jumps racing on the turf. Some schools across England and Northern Ireland are closed today. Just remember that youll need to use for any wagers on the races held in Southern Ireland, not GBP. With more and more racing taking place around the country, it was deemed that some governance was needed to oversee it all. If you look at breeders, and the various breeze-up sales around Europe, 85 to 90 per cent of horses sold at those sales are in Ireland or are Irish horses. [27], The First World War didn't initially see the cancellation of horse racing, and Thoroughbreds did not feature prominently among the 300,000 horses. The board of Horse Racing Ireland is due to meet on Monday and a government announcement on restrictions will be made later this week ahead of the May 5th deadline. Well help you find the perfect course for your needs. [4] The use of the Curragh as an early location for horse racing is also mentioned in a gloss to the 7th century Liber Hymnorum. It requires guts, stamina and talent to win and sometimes these can come from an unlikely source. There are 26 racecourses in Ireland, 23 in the Republic of Ireland and 3 in Northern Ireland. Ireland has bred some of the most celebrated and successful horses of all time, thanks in no small part to the climate and soil structure. [82], The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) represents the Thoroughbred breeding industry both in Ireland and abroad, and is involved with a number of industry bodies. With only one all-weather course in the country, at Dundalk, almost all racing in Ireland takes place on good old-fashioned mud and grass, but there is one extra and much-loved exception. In terms of geology and climate, our country is an ideal location for the raising of young horses. [10][21] In particular, the Thoroughbred, and horse racing in general, is seen as one of the country's main traditions:[66][67]. What are the Biggest Racecourses in Ireland? Timeform racecourse guides Horse racing free bet offers Review Get up to 20 back as cash if your first bet loses New Customer Offer. What are the Major Irish Racing Festivals? Ireland's racecourses are facing an economic "perfect storm" that won't be fixed by any resumption of racing behind closed doors. There is one royal warrant from 1603 that entitled the governor of Derry to host fairs and markets where horse races could be held. It is for this reason that you will find that races at Down Royal and Downpatrick pay out prize money in euros, despite the local currency being pounds sterling. Most racecourses in Ireland will allow this in the paddocks, but contact the course or check their website before turning up to be on the safe side. [32][80], The Turf Club, established in 1790, is the regulatory body for Horse racing in Ireland, including both Flat and National Hunt racing, and incorporates the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC). Ireland is a small island, yet sustains 26 unique and bustling racecourses, demonstrating the sheer passion of the Irish for the sport of horse racing. Its membership comprises all Irish racecourses. June 24 Naas, Roscommon (NH) June 25 Fairyhouse. You do not need to restrict yourself to one place. but this is seen as quite a typical price. 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. 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. A valid Flat or National Hunt licence must be held to ride in either type of race. The latest set of teacher strikes begin today, meaning some schools in England and Northern Ireland will be shut. [23][25][a], The first recorded race meet at Laytown took place in 1868, at a time when beach races were a relatively common occurrence. Read more about him in our Best Hennessey Gold Cup winners blog. This list may not reflect recent changes . We start with the Summer Festival in Killarney, which runs for five successive days in July. This does mean there can be extremely limited protection from any wind and rain so do not expect to find a nice warm reception area full of TVs broadcasting the action. Irish horse racing is an amazing experience and part of the cultural fabric of the country. Sometimes, that isn't possible. How will you get to the racecourse? Racehorses doing morning work at the Curragh last week. Equally, racing meetings are a huge social occasion with people from all walks of life coming together. Curragh Racecourse - one of the most prestigious venues in the world Credit: Ireland's Content Pool Situated in Newbridge in County Kildare, Curragh is one of the most prestigious venues worldwide to watch flat racing. [34], A number of other types of horse racing take place in Ireland, including Harness racing[38][39][40] and Endurance racing. "We will try to support the industry wherever we can and try to support the staff wherever we can, and we will work towards as swift resumption as possible, although there are clearly bigger issues for the country to be worried about now," Kavanagh said. Of course, local horses are also popular with the natives. 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. The racing of horses has a long history on the island, being mentioned in some of the earliest texts. 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. [50] The majority of racecourses are turf, with Dundalk being the only floodlit all-weather polytrack. The home of Irish flat racing, The Curragh staged its first race in 1727, with Leopardstown and Punchestown opening in the mid-1800s. The usual rules about decency (I.E. If you are wanting to head to some of the big meetings, these will set you back a little more, with a standard ticket costing 20 to 30 being far from unusual for these sought-after dates. If you look at a Deloitte report we did in 2018, it showed the income of racecourses back in 2016 was 52 million. The first equestrian events in the area took place in 1685, and the venue that stands today was built over 150 years ago. I am grateful to Ordnance Survey ( Crown Copyright) for permission to use any pre-1956 maps showing the locations of former racecourses in England, Scotland and Wales, and also to The British Newspaper Archive (www.BritishNewspaperArchive.co.uk) for allowing small sections of relevant newspapers to be included in the text of each racecourse. [24] A similar body for National Hunt races, the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee, was formed under the Turf Club to ensure fair running of National Hunt meetings. While there was free admission to meetings up to then, the course was enclosed with racegoers having to pay in, from near the end of the 19th century. Teachers who . Today at 10:37. Place your FIRST bet on any ChNew customers only. Race meetings were increasingly advertised in the press, and by 1750 even the English Racing Calendar advertised some 71 Irish events. [33], There are three types of National Hunt race:[33], Steeplechase and Hurdle races are held each year at 23 courses, of which 3 run exclusively National Hunt races. Most courses in Ireland are mixed tracks holding both flat and jumps racing on the turf. Our busy lives often get in the way, and we have to watch horse racing on the go. Subscribe FREE Today! Disclaimer: Please note that the legality of betting online varies between countries and it is your responsibility to verify that your actions are legal in the country you reside. Going racing is a unique experience and with 26 racecourses in Ireland to choose from, every taste is sure to be catered for. Do you enjoy jumps (national hunt) or flat racing? Some venues may offer cheap tickets, or do discounted prices for pensioners, students etc. When it comes to flat racing, the draw is massively influential. Youll be enjoying a famous meeting in no time at all thanks to Horse Racing Ireland. [9], In the mid-19th century, the racehorse industry saw a decline linked to the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars. Were in the hands of government on this, he said before stressing that behind closed doors fixtures are very different events to normal meetings. Our two favourites, however, would have to be Galway and Listowel as we have had personal success with our horses (Dooley Thoroughbreds) at these tracks. Here is the full list of 26 racecourses in Ireland: Throughout the remainder of this guide, we will give you more information about each Irish racecourse, simply follow any links off to more in-depth guides, which will include a particular focus on the major sites, cities and events. All racetracks have different characteristics. [30], Measures introduced by these organisations have helped the industry go from strength to strength. You cannot go wrong with any course or meeting really but to narrow the possibilities down, we will take a look at the most notable courses and some of the most popular meetings (not necessarily those with the best quality racing) the island has to offer. It's not that your business is tailing offit's disappearing.". Economic strife led to less investment in horse breeding, and capable horses were more likely to be raced in England where the prize money was larger. Horse racing in Ireland is intricately linked with Irish culture and society. The Racing Board was later replaced by the Irish Horseracing Authority in 1994, which is something we have known since 2001 as Horse Racing Ireland. This means visitors are free to put on something nice and casual if they like, such as a t-shirt and jeans, rather than dressing up for the occasions. This meeting boasts twelve Grade 1 races - the most in one event across Ireland - highlighted traditionally by the Punchestown Gold Cup and the Punchestown . The Phoenix Stakes, a race for two-year-olds over five furlongs, was a popular annual feature at the Park for many years and while the venue was mainly a flat track, some hurdle racers were staged. Racing at Tralee dated back to the 18th century before the final fixture was staged at Ballybeggan Park in 2008. 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 of now, all sports are banned until at least April 19 due to the COVID-19 crisis. Placing the latter here may stir up a little controversy, as it is geographically located on the Irish border. There are two main racing tracks in Northern Ireland Downpatrick and Down Royal. In 1812, with the Irish racing fixture list very congested, the Turf Club sorted out the problem by allocating annual dates to courses with Tuam, given meetings in the first week of August. The main jumps season runs between November and April. If you are planning a visit and wondering which of the 26 Irish racecourses is best for you to visit will depend on a range of factors. Leopardstown, Naas and Cork are three of several racecourses in Ireland that host both jumps and flat racing action. Records indicated that between 1751 and today, racing took place at over 400 different spots across Ireland. [90][84], For details on individual owners or breeders, see, Some sources place the formation of the INHSC at 1866, but this is when its British counterpart, the Grand National Hunt Committee, was recognised by the Jockey Club, Listed in order of prize money, these races all appear in the 2011 list of the 380 richest horse races in the world, at positions 52, 141, 286, 357 and 358, respectively, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Category:Irish racehorse owners and breeders, International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, European and Mediterranean Federation of Horseracing Authorities, "Beal Bn races extends to beat the tide - Independent.ie", "Racing the Irish Way: A Guide to Racing in Ireland", "ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT ROBINSON AT THE 33rd ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE BRITISH EQUINE VETERINARY ASSOCIATION, ON 15 SEPTEMBER, 1994", "Sporting and cultural life in Cork in the early 20th century", "Provisional Summary of Point to Point Racing (Online Version) 26 September 2015 - 13 December 2015", "About - Laytown Races Horse Racing on the Beach", "Visit Leopardstown - Racing Guide | Leopardstown Racecourse", "Irish Thoroughbred Marketing - Point-to-Point racing", "The Irish Horse Industry Report, January 2016", "Endurance Riding in Ireland - ILDRA - Affiliated to Horse Sport Ireland - Irish Long Distance Riding Association (-1)", "Endurance Ireland The future of Irish Endurance", "Irish Racecourses - Going Racing in Ireland", "Review of Certain Aspects of the Irish Horse Racing Industry", "Irish Thoroughbred Marketing - Racecourses", "Irish Thoroughbred Marketing - Racing in Ireland", "Irish Racecourses and Horseracing Tracks in Ireland", "Louth Hunt Point-to-Point moves to Bellurgan", "Irish Thoroughbred Marketing - Breeding", "How Irish jockeys saddled up and took a great leap forward to world-class level", "New Irish horse racing regulatory board to start in 2018", "About us - Irish Racehorse Trainers Association | Irish Racehorse Trainers Association", "Irish Stablestaff Association - Employment Protection", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Horse_racing_in_Ireland&oldid=1149991121, This page was last edited on 15 April 2023, at 17:46. Here are the racecourses closest to Dublin: This does not, in any way, diminish the qualities of other racecourses in Ireland. Sir Anthony McCoy (better known as AP McCoy) dominated national hunt racing until his retirement, winning a championship race in every year that he was active in the jumps. This is a day at the races that unfolds on the beach, on a level sand surface.
