Racecourses in Ireland. The horses owner, David Coughlan, was a director of the track. What are the Major Irish Racing Festivals? Whether youre a regular race-goer or just looking for a one-off day out, racing in Ireland will meet all of your needs and exceed your expectations. Most courses in Ireland are mixed tracks holding both flat and jumps racing on the turf. [78], Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) was established in 2001 in an effort to promote Irish Horse racing and Thoroughbred breeding at an international level. The ban led to public outcry, especially in Ireland where some 20,000 people were believed to be employed in the embattled racing industry. Timeform racecourse guides Horse racing free bet offers Review Get up to 20 back as cash if your first bet loses New Customer Offer. 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. 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. Races are primarily run on turf, with one floodlit all-weather track at Dundalk. 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 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. 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. Locals here simply cannot get enough of the sport that has existed locally for centuries in an official capacity. June 29 Limerick, Kilbeggan (NH) July 1 Leopardstown, Tipperary (NH) July 2 Sligo . Teacher strikes: Most NI schools close as five unions take action over 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. Teachers who . [9], In the mid-19th century, the racehorse industry saw a decline linked to the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars. Sales companies are having a complete look again at how they might operate in the future. Whether youre a fan of the jumps or flat racing, there are a plethora of racecourses in Ireland. [26] The first racing festival at the Ballybrit racecourse took place in the following year, with a reported 40,000 spectators in attendance. "All those elements are at risk, but our objective is to make sure as an industry we come through this episode intact and with the least damage done possible. Dublin, Cork and Kildare, for example, all have plenty of options. Its membership comprises all Irish racecourses. Previously, Downpatrick was home to both Flat and National Hunt racing. 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. So for every month closed, racecourses are losing 5 million. Before we do this though it is worth covering some points about horse racing in Ireland more generally. 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. When it comes to flat racing, the draw is massively influential. 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. The loss of the track was a big blow to the midlands, but another Co. Westmeath course, Kilbeggan, grew from strength to strength. Please gamble responsibly - if you feel you may have a problem and need advice please visitGamble Aware(UK)orGamblers Anonymous. If you prefer the jumps, traditional races such as The Irish Gold Cup, Irish Grand National and Irish Champion Hurdle are the highlights of the national hunt programme. The oldest racecourse in Southern Ireland is the Curragh although Down Royal in Northern Ireland pre-dates this venue. [87][88][89][48], The Irish Stablestaff Association (ISSA) lobbies for improved working conditions and pay for stable staff. The course that typically boasts the highest average attendance is Galway, so this is always a safe bet should you want a vibrant atmosphere. They are not race meetings as you would traditionally know them. Leopardstown Racecourse would have looked at the year of 2020 with such optimism [] (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. The mid sixties saw the demise of Hurst Park in '62, Lincoln and Lewes in '64, and Bromford Bridge and Bogside in '65. In 1961, the legendary Arkle made his racecourse debut in the Lough Ennel Plate bumper at Mullingar and finished third with Mark Hely-Hutchinson in the saddle. Horse racing in Ireland - Wikipedia Realistically thats up to 60 million now. 23 of these are in Southern Ireland and 3 racecourses in Northern Ireland. This is something amazing to attend as the leading three-year-old-thoroughbreds in Europe race to see who is the best. Translink has confirmed a number of . [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. The road, which was closed in both directions, has now reopened. It is the nations undisputed king of flat racing despite it providing a rather unusual test courtesy of its horse-shoe-shaped track (used for races of one mile and longer). 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. 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.