Do you know the History of Limerick Racecourse?

Limerick Racecourse is one of the most notable racing facilities not only in Ireland but throughout the world. With a richly colourful legacy of top-class horse sporting, the magnificent grounds have continued to attract thousands of racegoers, owners, fans, and sports enthusiasts from across the globe. For 225 years after the institution of the initial Limerick Racecourse in early 1790, about seven various local sites were used to hold different forms of horse racing. Its forerunners included some locations in places like Bruff, Newcastle, Rathkeale, Lemonfield, Ballinacurra as well as Green Park. In fact, the very last location at Green Park, which was shut down in mid-1999, had outstandingly held racing activities for well over ten decades.

The long-awaited march of time caught up with the main city track as it got enveloped in the town’s urbanised sprawl and a fresh location was immediately looked for. Limerick Racecourse quickly found a brand new location at Greenmount Park. At the time it was bought in mid-1996. About six kilometres from the town boundaries close to the famous village of Patrickswell, with just about 400 acres of primary greenbelt farming land, Greenmount was a naturally apt option, with an interrupted panoramic background at which locally organised point-to-point racing activities had been staged for as long as the neighbouring memory served.

Although the site’s landscape was perfect for unhindered views beyond the racecourse, the location presented new obstacles for the continual civil works of the mega assignment due to an unfortunate fall of 27.5m across the location and dealing with the urgent requirement for a 12.0m drop over a mere 70.0m. Considerable cutting and filling were thus urgently required across the location to organise the ground for the specialised surfaces for the Grade One racetrack, in addition to all the connecting roads, about 2000 carpark, and considerable drainage facility, including a carefully drawn-out precast concrete, made underpass.

The expansion of fundamental facilities at Greenmount has presented a favourable chance for Limerick to own one of the most suitable racing amenities in the country. The entire racecourse layout was redesigned from the very scratch. This is the very first newly established racecourse in the whole of Ireland in more than 60 years and it offered the complete design personnel a unique challenge to attain the desired possibilities that this wonderful opportunity provided.

Opening in mid-October 2001, the inaugural race meeting drew a commendably large crowd of well over 18,000 racegoers from the country and beyond. Having just marked its widely publicised 13th Anniversary, the prominent moves from strength to further strength as one of Ireland’s premier horse racing centres.

Finally, the racing site is also home to one of the best catering and hospitality services in Ireland. With regard to excellent dining and accommodation services, the top-of-the-range horse sporting centre is simply in an enviable category of its own. For both special social occasions like weddings and business-related functions such as professional conferences/seminars, Limerick is simply the best place to take your meticulously planned event. With state-of-the-art facilities and friendly client support team, the venue is a top-class catering and hospitality centre that very few similar centres can rival.

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Contact Details: Greenmount Park, Patrickswell, Co. Limerick, V94 K858

Tel: + 353 61 32000

Email: info@limerickraces.ie 

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Navan Racecourse in Ireland

Navan Racecourse is a globally acclaimed racing facility located at Proudstown in the famous region of Navan, County Meath - Ireland. The sporting site is found approximately forty-eight kilometres away from the Irish capital - Dublin. The prominent racecourse features Flat and National Hunt racing fixtures. The universally popular racing grounds are owned by Horse Racing Ireland. While it is not among the oldest horse racing locations in Europe, its series of widely transformative developments over the past few decades has rendered it a top racing centre that attracts thousands of fans and an endless stream of media attention across the globe.

Navan ranks favourably among the fastest growing courses in the whole of Ireland and this is clearly depicted in the fine quality of its sporting events which naturally draws some of the greatest horses in the region. It holds both flat and jumps horse racing events but it is more widely known for the latter. During the Autumn and Winter months, National Hunt stars head to Navan. Its star-studded events are one of the explanations why the racecourse has continued to top the charts as a preferred racing destination not only in Ireland but also in Europe. 

Important investments in the racecourse have attracted huge crowds and a roll of top-class horses, trainers and jockeys. Big names who participated in Navan’s events include Mac's Joy, the unrivalled Watson Lake, the universally celebrated Back in Front, the Moscow Flyer, the great Limestone Lad, the unchallengeable David's Lad, the indomitable Solerina, the invincible Hardy Eustace, and Emotional Moment. Due to the influx of these top stars, very few Irish and English sporting venues can rival the racing glamour found at Navan Racecourse. It is simply in an enviable class of its own – in terms of racing quality and qualified management.

Navan is a generally left-handed racetrack that extends up to one mile four furlongs with a rather straight sprint track of almost six furlongs. Its home straight measures three-and-a-half furlongs with a steady ascending finish from two furlongs out. Due to its favourable leveled topography, the horse racing amenity is widely preferred by trainers, owners, and top-class horses. It is consistently ranked among the very best horse racing facilities not only in the region but also throughout the world of equestrian sporting.

If you thought that Navan is only known due to its horse racing fame, then you are completely wrong. The racecourse is also home to Europe’s well-reviewed catering and hospitality amenities. 

As such, Navan’s racegoers, owners, trainers, fans, and visitors from all over the map are often treated to the best services in the world of dining and accommodation. Additionally, it provides excellent social and corporate conferencing facilities out there. It is the ideal location to hold your business-related functions such seminars and company get-togethers or social events like wedding ceremonies and engagement parties.

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Contact details: Proudstown Road, Proudstown, Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland. 

Tel: + 353 46 902 1350

Email: info@navanracecourse.ie

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Wexford Racecourse in Ireland

Located slightly outside the famous town of Wexford a little off the Dublin-Rosslare detour, Wexford Racecourse has an interesting historical account and a wonderful horseracing legacy. 

The name Wexford is a derivative from the town’s Viking prestige and the urban centre has long been connected with jockeys and Irish horse breeding. Some individuals, as well as horses from this region, have attained distinguished fame as a result of their National Hunt achievements. This is why Wexford Racecourse ranks highly as one of the most famous sporting centres not just in Ireland but also throughout Europe and the outside world.

The contemporary racing sight in Wexford is a huge departure from what it was during the early times of the town’s horse riding legacy. The very first racing archives date back to the mid-1870s, even though Wexford went through a largely quiet duration until around 1951. From those days, both the racecourse and the town became enthusiastically involved in Hunt Racing and within a short time, they were singled out for churning outstanding jump horses and horse riders. As such, the success story of Wexford is akin to the proverbial rise from grass to grace.

It all began on the 15th day of October 1951 with the grand opening of a new sporting facility at Bettyville. Newspaper surveys put the turn-out figures at about 17,000 and a great deal of effort and managerial acumen had to go into the important event to make sure that things were smoothly handled. Both ladies and gentlemen of those early days enjoyed the unmistakable thrill of the galloping horses pounding down the then fledgeling track. Before the end of the auspicious day, Wexford had gotten firmly engraved in the immortal annals of Irish racing. Ever since that widely publicised and celebrated event, Wexford Racecourse has steadily risen through numerous obstacles to become one of the chart-topping horse racing venues on earth.

Presently, Wexford Racecourse is a largely sharp, right-handed rectangle-shaped racetrack. It has five prominent fences and four hurdles and a short a rather short run that measures one furlong. The excellent combination makes for stimulating hunt races and the location can be effortlessly reached by train. There is enough parking for 200 members of the public and additional car parking is available for both trainers and owners. There is also a cloak room, a baby changing area, three different stands, two bars, a cafeteria and a restaurant and an unrestricted payphone, while wheelchair access further adds to the satisfaction of a special day at the races for physically underprivileged persons.

If you’re looking at Wexford as a prospective location, the Carriglawn Room can take care of up to 80 persons and is always available for private hire. There are also some good hotels in and around the Wexford Racecourse and a lot of great attractions to savour while visiting. Enjoy a day at the races to find out more about Wexford Racecourse firsthand.

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Contact details: Wexford Racecourse, Bettyville, Newton Road, Wexford, Ireland

Tel: 087 3828099 

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Naas Racecourse - History & Key Racing Facts

Naas is highly regarded throughout Ireland due to its long connection with horse racing. The area is the proud home to two of the country’s most well-known sporting facilities - Naas and Punchestown Racecourse. To this day, it remains one the world’s leading destinations for both local horse racing adherents as well as national racing enthusiasts. It is one of the very few Irish towns that have become synonymous with top quality equestrian culture.

Work at Naas started in January 1921, and this was followed by the notable formation of the historic Naas Races Company before the end of 1922. The globally regarded Company staged their first race meeting in June 1924, and the prominent racecourse shortly after proved immensely popular with locals and among horse racing fans from across the region and the country at large.

Although the facility lacked the first-rate structural amenities that British racecourses boasted at the time, it nonetheless continued providing the local community with the sporting thrill that they wanted. For being particularly famous among the Irish citizens of the 20th century, Naas Racecourse systematically advanced in terms of infrastructural facilities and racing quality to cut itself a high-status category as one of Europe’s foremost horse sporting establishments.

Naas is found in County Kildare, Ireland, an estimated 18 miles away from the capital city -Dublin. The racecourse stages both Flat and National Hunt sporting fixtures and in mid-2010 about fifteen sporting meetings were convened at the site. The racecourse is generally left-handed with an uphill finish. 

Naas Racecourse hosts many Grade 2 National Hunt track events that comprise the seasonal Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase and the widely publicised Johnstown Novice Hurdle, as well as one Group Three flat race. A noteworthy flat race event, the universally renowned Fillies' Sprint Stakes, proudly hosted the Group Three status starting from 2006 up to 2010. Top class horses have participated in major races at Naas including Ragusa, the historically popularised 1963 Irish Derby, the legendary Eclipse Stakes winner, the invincible Arkle, the unbeatable champion of the famous Cheltenham Gold Cup for three consecutive years - 1964,1965 and 1966. 

Again, Naas is a top center for hospitality services. For instance, the racecourse’s affordable dining and accommodation packages are among the very best not only in Ireland but also throughout the whole continent. There are numerous options for both private and public packages that you can choose from, depending on your individual needs. Most notably, the facility’s competent management has exquisite private box facilities that offer you a chance to follow your sporting events from the comfort of your own private box. 

Moreover, Naas Racecourse features excellent corporate conferencing and state-of-the-art social meeting facilities that you cannot find in many other equestrian racing centers out there. Most importantly, these outstanding corporate and social packages for business-related gatherings and social meetings are competitively priced and thoroughly customized to meet your personal tastes and specifications. You only need to closely liaise with the Naas hospitality department's support staff in time and have all the preparatory arrangements in place ahead of your social/corporate function.

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Contact details: Naas Racecourse, Tipper Road, Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Tel: 0035 (0) 45 897391

Email: goracing@naasracecourse.com  

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Enjoy a Day at Tramore Racecourse in Ireland

Loosely translated from Gaelic, Tramore literally means, Long Strand. For a notably extended part of its history, Tramore held its race events on a beach that had been purposely prepared for equestrian racing. The initial races to be documented at the facility were staged in 1785, largely due to the generous support of the neighbouring communities who comprised the local landed gentry. By mid-1807, the strand racing functions had gradually evolved into a six-day sporting festival. In order to maximise the attending crowds, this important meeting happened in the summer season – August in particular, and this is an age-old custom that is widely maintained right up to the current time. 

Despite the first success of the racing meeting, by mid-1888, the facilities, and frequency of the beach-based meetings had markedly declined, and it required the organising acumen of local property owner Martin J Murphy to regenerate the fortunes of the beleaguered Tramore Racecourse. Heading up a well-composed committee of local entrepreneur, he redesigned the beach amenities, and thus breathed new life into the once-in-a-year event. However, the continuing ravages of the raging sea were made worse by the singularly furious storms of 1911, and this occasioned severe losses and damages to the prized beach facilities.

After this fresh wave of misfortunes, Martin J Murphy once again chipped in to reinvigorate the wrecked infrastructure and generously provided his personal land on Graun Hill as a prospective site for the titivated racecourse. The racecourse’s sitting committee gladly welcomed the munificent offer, and as a result, the sporting venue has remained at this very site ever after. Despite this notable change of location, Tramore has not dwindled in terms of popularity and expert ratings but has steadily doubled its fame to rank among the very best Irish sporting grounds out there.

In the most recent days, Tramore has attained two footnotes in the racing history of the world. On the first day of January 2000, before a lively crowd of eleven thousand fans, the racecourse hosted the very first sporting competition of the eagerly awaited new millennium. The special racing event was aptly dubbed, “The Mean Fiddler Handicap Steeplechase”, and was famously won by a little-known horse with a memorably optimistic name of “No Problem”. Again, on the very first day of January 2002, Tramore made history as the first horse sporting arena to hold a race function using the then high-trending Euro as the standard of exchange. The decision to have the continent's symbolic currency feature in the New Year's fixtures was a well-informed deliberation that greatly popularised the events and the racecourse at the same time.

Often called Where Turf Meets Surf’, Tramore is a well-liked holiday site, and it provides lively vacationing crowds with a beautiful blend of seashore amusement and top-calibre racing action at the same time. Tramore holds eleven consecutive days of high-quality racing. The four-day summer race meeting that takes place every August entails three important evening events. Again, the two-day New Year sports meeting include the final day of the ending year and the very first day of the New Year. Further, there are also two-day racing functions that take place every April and May, and a one-day race every October.

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Contact details: Waterford & Tramore Racecourse, Graun Hill, Tramore, Co. Waterford, X91 XP29

Tel: 051 381425 

Email: racing@tramoreracecourse.ie 

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It's not a Long way to Tipperary

Tipperary Racecourse is a key horse sporting venue found in County Tipperary in Ireland. The widely acclaimed venue stages both National Hunt and Flat race events. The racecourse is located next to Limerick Junction railway line and about two miles away from Tipperary town. The famous site is owned and managed by Horse Racing Ireland. The course is left-handed and flat measuring about 1 mile and 2 furlongs round. 

There is also a five-furlong sprint track which aptly joins the central racecourse at the beginning of the straight. As a result of its wonderful layout, the course is universally liked by trainers, owners, and a large number of award-winning jockeys from Ireland and even beyond.

The first ever documented race meeting at Tipperary Racecourse was staged on March 27, 1848. However, the very first sporting function held at the present Limerick Junction track it was held in September 1916 and it was hugely attended by then celebrated trainers such as Senator J.J. Parkinson and Charles Moore. Horse racing continued taking place at Limerick Junction up to the time racecourse’s name was altered to Tipperary in 1986. Over the years, the facility has continued to undertake numerous face lifts that have given it a completely refurbished look that makes it one of the most beautiful and well-equipped structures of its kind in Europe.

Tipperary Racecourse is a historically significant county that is uniquely steeped in every aspect of horse racing tradition, right from the world-famous Coolmore Stud to the brimming volume of exceptional jockeys to have ever come from there. This exceptionally well-designed and ubiquitously well-known racecourse exactly reflects an enduring culture of providing high-class racing entertainment both on the flat and over jumps. As a result, of the prestigious held by Tipperary in the history and present state of racing in Ireland, the venue draws thousands of enthusiastic crowds during its key track events. In a similar vein, worldwide group of journalists flock to the sporting center with cameras and other paraphernalia to capture the most vivid peaks of its best horse riding competitions at Tipperary Racecourse. 

In the Spring and Summer racing meetings, it is quite possible to run on potential champions right in the action. For example, the first and second in the hotly contested 2002 English Derby High Chaparral and Hawk Wing famously won their 2-y-o maidens at this venue. 

Tipperary Racecourse has been the starting point for many prospective champions such as Dylan Thomas, and Heatseeker. Nevertheless, the prominent course saves its best for last in the sense of "Super Sunday", usually held on the first-week Sunday of every October, with this being the very last race event of the year. This is often the highest quality 'mixed' function held in the country featuring a wide coterie of high-quality races that involve some of the finest horses in the country. On some occasions, even horses from Britain and other neighboring European regions also participate in these auspiciously well-organized events.

Those that have been to Tipperary Racecourse will also affirm that it features excellent catering and hospitality services. Ranging from well-furnished dining and accommodation amenities to affordable conferencing services, the place is the destination for choice for both keen corporate/private clients and enthusiastic racegoers.

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Contact details: Tipperary Racecourse, Limerick Junction, Tipperary, Ireland

Tel: + 353 062 51303

Email: info@tipperaryraces.ie 

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Go Racing at Kilbeggan in Ireland

Beautifully nestled in the very heart of the spectacular midlands, Kilbeggan Racecourse bears one of the authentic success accounts of Irish racing. Kilbeggan Racecourse, a few miles outside the busy town at Loughnagore, is a key part of Westmeath legacy and one of the few landmarks the county can be rightly proud of, but it also testifies to what can be attained with a clear vision, meticulous planning, and unrelenting hard work.

It hasn’t perfectly been all plain running for Kilbeggan since horse racing was first held in the location about 160 years gone, but the contemporary history of one of the most outstanding racecourses in the country has been characterised by astonishing progress, ensuring that the track is one of the most popular anywhere in Ireland and thoroughly pleasant grounds to pass a summer’s sunset watching the Sport of Kings.

So exactly where and when did the racing start at Kilbeggan? A great deal of time ago, on March 9, 1840, to be exact when a g of group of gentlemen brought up an idea to organise a race event in Kilbeggan where the major aspect was a competition for a Challenge Cup, estimated at 40 guineas, with another 10 pounds thrown in for good measure by the competent steward. Between then and 1855, race functions were held at multiple sites around the metropolis, including the current location at Loughnagore, despite the fact that they then failed due to an unfavorable combination of land protest and mass emigration.

Nonetheless, the events were restarted in early 1879 and the very first formal meeting was held over a course at Ballard on April 17 of the same year on a ground provided by the renowned Locke family, owners of the well-known distillery which is still in business in Kilbeggan presently. 

Racing fixtures continued there up to 1885 before the activities lapsed yet again. But determination was evidently the order of the day and resumption followed in early 1901 when the events were undertaken again on September 2 of the same year, with a groundbreaking meeting at Loughnagore. And with the unfortunate exception of the anxious period between 1941 and 45, during the globally disrupting Second World War, race functions have been staged at Kilbeggan every year, including 1953 when highflying sporting fanatic, Prince Any Khan, won a celebrated win on a horse with a hard-to-pronounce name, “Ynys”. The ensuing sympathies of the whole country must have deservedly gone out to the unlucky course commentator of the day!

The volunteered committee team survived grave difficulties during the tumultuous 1950s and 60 when the Racing Board stopped financial aid, but during the 70s, there were exceedingly noteworthy developments which lent Kilbeggan Racecourse an enormous boost and thus helped it pave the path for the remarkable success the venue has continuously relished over the past decades.

The greatest move and the one that renders Kilbeggan outstanding among Irish racing spots were ratified in 1971 when it was unanimously decided to switch to all-National Hunt racing and hold no further flat racing events. It was a remarkably bold step and one that numerous people thought would sound the death knell for the racetrack, but it was again one that brought brilliant results and has therefore helped to transform Kilbeggan into what it is currently - the very envy of numerous another racecourse in Ireland and beyond.

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Contact details: The Racecourse, Kilbeggan Co. Westmeath, Ireland

Tel: 057 93 32176 

Email: racing@kilbegganraces.com 

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Love a Day at Listowel Racecourse

Listowel Racecourse is located in the renowned town of Listowel in County Kerry - Ireland. This top-rated racecourse stages National Hunt as well as Flat racing events. 

The present course is positioned near the town centre and was first opened in mid-1858 and thus celebrated its 150th Anniversary in mid-2008.

Listowel's major racing festival, the popularly attended harvest festival, that was originally referred to as the North Kerry Hunt Steeplechase Meeting occurs every year in September over a period of seven days featuring both National Hunt events and flat racing functions. The racecourse is one of the concluding festivals to happen every summer, the very last prior to Christmas and second to the Galway Races in terms of attendances. In total, nine sporting meetings occur yearly with a two-day race meeting each June.

The most important race held at Listowel is the Guinness Kerry National. The distinguished event is staged on the Wednesday of the conventionally marked Harvest Festival across a distance measuring 3 miles. Past winners include the universally recognised Aintree Grand National champion Monty's Pass. In addition, hospitality at Listowel Racecourse probably isn’t as costly as you might think. Guests usually get thoroughly entertained without having to break their bank accounts!

The racing site is within a small walking distance of the metropolis which is itself located some 25km away from Tralee and an estimated 80km from Limerick, the two can be accessed by frequent railway services provided in Dublin and also buses that usually ferry expectant sporting enthusiasts to the races. In a week, the Festival rivals that of the widely acclaimed Galway races.

Traditionally, a time when local farmers came out to bet their lucrative profits at the festival has advanced to become a fundamental cultural legacy in the prosperous town and a cordial welcome is proffered to all who may wish to savor the very last racing festival before Christmas. Besides the well-attended autumn horse riding fete staged in September, the prestigious racecourse also hosts a distinctly well-organised three-day Summer Festival every June, offering the much-required leisure opportunity for families holidaying in beautiful County Kerry.

The racecourse is a generally left-handed and oval-shaped with a total circumference of about one mile and two furlongs. Also, there are some hurdles and prominent National Hunt fencing. The hurdles are often moved after every event to allow for different racing variations. Standard upgrading and regular redevelopment of the main enclosure has produced the contemporary well-equipped amenities for racers and racegoers. The wide range of race day options comprises the Hannon Stand that contains a set aside seating part and the Reserved Stand that hosts Tote betting shops and two bars.

Latest additions consist of the outstanding New Stand Complex with a splendid restaurant and public bars and an upper level which may be reserved for dining and commercial hospitality for between 40 to 100 guests. In addition to the stand facilities, there are additional bars, foodstuff outlets, shops, on-course betting shops as well as highly effective CCTV events coverage featuring a huge screen purposely set up for the September Festival. After the races, songs and entertainment are laid on to carry on the celebrations. 

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Contact details: Listowel Racecourse, Greenville Road, Listowel Co. Kerry, Co Kerry, Ireland

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Barney Curley Betting Scandal

If you love to bet it's odds on you've heard of Barney Curley. 

He's a kind of infamous character the bookmakers would rather forget because in his time as a professional gambler, racehorse owner and horse trainer he's won some serious wonga with his timely betting coups. 

Now I don't know if the Irish man has an interest in playing online fairy tale slots but if he did you can guarantee he wouldn't need a lucky four-leafed clover in his wallet to come out a winner. 

For instance, do you remember this infamous betting plot? It's more akin to a chapter of a Dick Francis novel than the Mills & Boon of supposed modern-day gamblers. 

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Yellow Sam Betting Coup

Go back to Bellewstown, 26th June 1975. Professional gambler Barney Curley was going to have it right off with lowly handicapper named Yellow Sam. 

In fact, this would be one of the biggest betting coups in Irish history. 

Curley bought Yellow Sam, named after his father who was known by the same moniker at the races. To get the horse well handicapped, it was run several times in unfavourable conditions. 

He prepared a plan not only for the horse to win but for people to place bets. 

On the big day, Yellow Sam was priced 20-1

Curley knew that if a large sum of money was bet on the horse that the price would be much shorter by the start. This is where he played his master hand. The racecourse had just two phone lines: one for the general public and the other line belonging to the Extel betting company which supplied racing data [betting odds] to betting shops. Mysteriously, the Extel telephone was put out of use [the line was cut] and the only phone left to detail the betting odds to shops was the public phone. 

Friends, acquaintances, and paid accomplices waited in bookmakers across Ireland ready to place bets at 20-1. They bet £50 - £300. Curley called half a dozen people at 2:50, ten minutes before the race and instructed them to call ten or twenty others. Curley invested £15,000, his entire life savings. 

Fifteen minutes before the bets were placed, a good friend of Curley's Benny O'Hanlon, who was in on the plot, walked into the public telephone box at the course and pretended to call a dying aunt in a non-existent hospital. His act was so convincing that a queue of people allowed him to continue to use the phone. 

Off-course bookmakers were desperately trying to contact the course to lay off their huge liabilities. 

They got an engaged tone! 

Neither could they lay their bets or ''horrendously'' change the price which stuck firmly at 20-1. 

Curley knew that if he was seen at the course it would catch the bookmakers' attention so he hid in a thicket of gorse in the centre of the racecourse. 

Yellow Sam won the hurdle race by two and a half lengths. He won IR£300,000. In today's money that is worth £1.7M. 

Bookmakers knew they had been stung by a sophisticated gambling plot but as there was nothing illegal about the win they had to pay out. They paid out in single notes filling 108 bags. 

The following day, the story made headline news around the world and is still recognised as one of the biggest betting coups in the history of racing. 

A Day Horse Racing at Sligo in Ireland

You could literally stick a pin virtually anywhere on the map of Ireland and identify an area of natural attraction but the northwestern part of the beautiful country is singularly prized for its irresistibly scenic landscapes. This spectacular beauty aptly blends with the rich history in the Irish arts, great literature, and unbeatable music to create an authentic slice of the crystalline emerald isle. This is where Sligo Racecourse is prominently situated – in the very epicentre of insurmountable resplendence, a variegated cultural heritage, and naturally beautiful landscapes.

Sligo is a historically well-regarded town that is found in the county that proudly shares the name. Richly immersed in all the noteworthy attractions is Sligo Racecourse, a globally popular local sporting centre in which the top quality Sligo horse riding events form just a small part of an unforgettable racing day experience. The racing arena is located about 1km away from the town centre. However, the racecourse has not been on the same ground over the past few centuries.

People who go to Sligo from the eastern regions are singularly thrilled by the scenic views they enjoy along the long journey to the Sligo Racecourse. The famous course is fittingly nestled between two lofty mountains - Benbulben and Knocknarea. This unique positioning provides an incredibly panoramic vista that acts as a perfect accompaniment to wayfarers journeying to catch a glimpse of the top-class racing functions staged at Sligo.

Hospitality at the facility probably is not as expensive as many might presume. During the hot summer months, Sligo is a perfect visitor destination whose appeal is further boosted by the fact that the spring, as well as the summer seasons, overlaps with the key Sligo track fixtures. These notably popularised activities are often staged from early May till late August. Every year, a total of eight meetings provide opportunities to participate in some extremely exciting racing during the summer breaks and the celebratory aura at Sligo is most palpably felt at the two-day racing in August, which usually comes shortly after the Galway Summer Races. 

A noteworthy Grade two racecourse, Sligo has been used for some thoroughly exciting races that involve chart-topping stars like Jazz Princess. This unconquerable champion won here before earning a proud name as one of the best two-year-olds in the whole country and finding resounding success at the Curragh Racecourse a little later. One of the greatest novice hurdlers in the entire Britain, Brewster also registered a grand win at Sligo in 2005. The racetrack is not without its fair share of challenges and needs the very best efforts from the well-trained horses to triumph. A right-handed oval that stretches a little more than a mile, Sligo’s second half heading to the home straight is a fairly steady inclination which requires a good measure of stamina and tenacity. The peculiar nature of the track ends up in several close and stimulating finishes coupled with a few notable upsets at the same time.

The racetrack and high standards of horse sporting competition motivate some lively betting patterns during race day which just adds to the excitement and the overall appeal of Sligo racing to both knowledgeable and casual racegoers. A wonderful social environment for groups and parties, families will also have a great day out and there are opportunities for mixing business with pleasure and enjoying the corporate hospitality on offer. 

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Contact details: County Sligo Races Ltd, Cleveragh Road, Sligo, Ireland

Tel: 071 916 2484 

Email: info@countysligoraces.com 

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Go Racing at Roscommon in Ireland

There are some parts of Ireland less travelled but provide the kind of places and thrilling activities for which the popular term hidden gem’ surely applies. 

One of such places is Roscommon. For most, it is associated with horseracing for a very good reason. It excels in hospitality and catering.
 
Roscommon sporting activities typify what equestrian racing is to the colourful history and rich culture of concealed Ireland and clearly presents an entirely genuine local flavour to the sport of kings.

Roscommon is a prominent town in the well-known county that coincidentally bears the same name and is aptly located in the epicentre of Ireland. Sports are quite famous in Roscommon, and the urban centre boasts a 30,000-capacity Gaelic Football field and a handball club of worldwide recognition. Like other places in Ireland, quite little provokes wild human passions like horse sporting and it is to these races that thousands of excited fans look for pastime and relaxation, as well as for thrills and reliving entertainment.

Sporting functions at Roscommon formally started in 1885 and, despite its understandable local attraction, the racecourse has hosted high-profile events featuring some of the most famous horses in the country. Most notably, Imperial Call had an unpromising debut here, coming third in an inexperienced chase at the prestigious Irish racing amenity before proceeding to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1996. Roscommon's situated about one kilometre away from the civic center conveniently reached via the major Dublin to the Castlebar thoroughfare. Frequent train services frequently ply between Dublin and the Roscommon station, making the grounds among the most well-regarded racing arenas in Europe. 

The leading sporting arena got a new birth of worldwide fame when Enzelli proved triumphant the racecourse, a year prior to becoming the very first Irish horse in 30 years to register a victory in the Ascot Gold Cup in 1999. Moreover, the stables at Roscommon can put up about 95 horses and its fundamental amenities are exceptionally good. These are some of the present developments at the popular racing venue. These transforming redesigns led to the enviable recognition that Roscommon Racecourse scooped in 2004 after it was recognised as the leading facility to implement the most commendable infrastructural improvements. 

Besides emerging as one of the most improved equestrian racing facilities in Ireland, Roscommon Racecourse has also established immense fame as a top-class centre for both catering and hospitality services. With excellent dining and accommodation services within and outside the racecourse, Roscommon has doubtless been a preferred home to both local patrons and horse riding sightseers from many far-flung parts of the globe. Coupled with good quality racing services, the top-of-the-range catering and hospitality packages have attracted a great deal of media mention as extensive journalistic coverage over the years. 

Visit Roscommon racecourse website here

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Contact details: Racecourse Road, Lenabane, Roscommon, Ireland

Tel: + 353 90 662 6231 

Email: roscommonracecourse@eircom.net

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