Horse racing is one of the most popular spectator sports in Ireland, with millions watching action on the track throughout the course of the year.
Irish horses are also regarded among the very best, winning major races at the highest level over both hurdles, fences, and on the flat across Great Britain, France, and North America. You can check if there are any Irish horses in the 2025 Kentucky Derby live odds by TwinSpires.com here.
The sector is one of the biggest in Ireland, and is worth a staggering £1 billion per annum. It also employs over 14,000 people across the nation. However, where are the best locations to watch live horse racing action?
Punchestown
One of the standout racing venues in Ireland can be found in County Kildare, with Punchestown playing host to some of the most iconic races on the Irish calendar. It is regarded as the home of Jumps racing in the nation, and is the location for the Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival.
The event, which is staged in April, runs between Tuesday and Saturday, and is regarded to be the Irish version of the Cheltenham Festival. Among the standout races during the meet include the Punchestown Gold Cup, which has been won by legends such as Florida Pearl, Neptune Collonges, and Sizing John.
As well as the Gold Cup, races such as the Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle and Champion Four Year Old Hurdle are also held during the season-ending meet over jumps.
Leopardstown
For those based in Dublin, one of the easiest tracks to locate can be found five miles south of the city in the form of Leopardstown. Both jumps and flat meetings take place at the location throughout the season, but like all venues, the action over obstacles ranks among the most popular.
The standout meet of the season comes in the form of the much-loved two-day Dublin Racing Festival, which is only getting bigger by the year. Regarded as the key trials event for the Cheltenham Festival, graded events take place throughout the weekend, with the action headlined by the Irish Gold Cup, which has been won for the last three years by Galopin Des Champs.
On the flat, key races come in the form of the trials for the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas. At the end of the flat season, the Irish Champion Stakes is held annually in September.
Fairyhouse
Fairyhouse Racecourse is located in the parish of Ratoath in County Meath, and is home to one of the most famous events on the Irish calendar- the Irish Grand National. It also holds special importance in the history books, as it was the training ground for l’Escargot, who would get the better of legendary Grand National winner Red Rum.
The Easter meeting is the standout event on the calendar, with the WillowWarm Gold Cup kicking off the Grade One action. Legendary winners include Arkle, Al Boum Photo, and Galopin Des Champs.
However, the Irish Grand National is the feature of the season, being run over three miles and five furlongs. Winners of the race include Desert Orchid, I Am Maximus, and Intense Raffles.
The Curragh
The feature venue for flat horse racing in Ireland comes in the form of the world-famous- Curragh. The Curragh hosts the five most important flat races in Ireland, with all of the Classics being held at the location in County Kildare.
Racing at the course is staged between March and October, with 23 days of live action being staged. The Irish Derby is the standout event on the track, with this race being staged for the first time in 1866.
It has been a breeding ground for some of the world’s best horses, with champions having made their two-year-old debuts at the Curragh since 1957. Among the names to have graced the turf at the Curragh include Galileo, Dubawi, Yeats, and Camelot.
As well as the Derby, other featured events on the calendar at the track include the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Irish Oaks, International Stakes, and the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Laytown
While Leopardstown, Punchestown, and the Curragh all boast racing on the turf, the most unique horse racing venue in Ireland can be found on the beach at Laytown.
This unique venue is the only track on the calendar to host a race day under rules on the beach. Its history dates back to 1868, and the iconic day of racing takes place annually in September. Horses compete over a straight six or seven furlong distance, and it was the subject of a BBC documentary titled ‘Racing The Tide’.
Major changes have been made to the event since the 1990s due to healthy and safety concerns, but it remains one of the standout events on the calendar. Such is the popularity of Laytown, there was public outcry in 2020 when the event was cancelled due to concerns surrounding social distancing measured due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Photo Credit: Gordon Flood, Trim, Ireland
