For all of modern history, horse racing has long been one of the biggest and most influential sports in Ireland. Sites such as the Curragh plains have been central to Irish myth and folklore with tall tales of figures such as Fionn MacCumhaill. Throughout Irish history, successive institutions have understood how central horse racing is to Irish culture. Whether it’s King Charles II, the influential ‘Society of Sportsmen’, or even the Irish government today, institutions of power have long held sports racing in high regard. This article today will consider some of the biggest horse racing events in Ireland today and why these events are so central to Irish society and culture.
The Irish Champion Stakes
Taking place in Leopardstown, the Irish Champion Stakes is undoubtedly one of the biggest racing events on the Irish calendar. The race takes place in September every year and is one of the most attended races in Ireland. As of 2019, the race had over 60,000 attendees and has been growing every year. The race is open to horses aged 3 years or older and is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland.
The event is relatively new in the horse racing world being first established in 1976 in memorial of Joe McGrath (1887-1966). The event was transferred to Phoenix Park from 1984-1991 before being returned to Leopardstown. The event is one of the most prestigious events a horse racer can win in Ireland and boasts a purse of €1 million, with €580,000 of the prize pool going to the winner of the race. The race has seen some of the biggest names in horse racing history win the title such as the legendary Dylan Thomas in 2006, Sea the Stars in 2009, and Almanzor in 2016. Overall, the Leopardstown Irish Champion Stakes is a fantastically competitive race and is a must-visit for any racing fan in Ireland.
The Irish Grand National
The Irish Grand National is one of the biggest and most influential races on the Irish racing calendar and covered by pretty much every Irish racing bookmaker. Located at the Fairyhouse Racecourse in County Meath, the race is the Irish equivalent of the British Grand National and takes place during the Fairyhouse Easter festival. The race is a National Hunt Steeplechase and is open to horses aged 5 years or over. The race is one of the biggest events on the horse racing calendar for fans, the media, and Irish bookmakers alike. The race boasts a purse of nearly €700,000 to competitors in the race.
The event is one of the biggest racing events in terms of attendance, attracting nearly 30,000 visitors as of 2019. However, with the growth of online betting and streaming, the events in-person attendance figures have slightly plateaued over the past few years. The Irish Grand National is one of the most difficult and technical races for competitors, with it being a rarity that all racers get over the finish line. The race is so difficult that in 1928 only 2 of the racers finished! The race has hosted some of the biggest names in Irish racing history. However, the most successful competitor in the race’s history is Brown Lad, the only horse to win the race 3 times in 1975, 1976, and 1978.
Listowel Harvest Festival
Located in Country Kerry at the Listowel Racehorse, the Listowel Harvest Festival is a huge summer festival that includes some of the biggest horse races in Ireland. The event takes place in September, usually when all harvests are complete in Ireland, spanning over 7 days of racing-filled fun! The Listowel Harvest Festival is the last major racing event to take place in the Irish racing calendar before the Christmas races and attracts a huge number of people. In total, the event attracted over 90,000 people in 2019. This is an astronomical event considering the population of Ireland and is only second to the Galway Summer Festival. Given the Summer Festival also includes other amusement and entertainment beyond horse racing, it is of little surprise that the event is so popular.
The event hosts a vast number of events over the 7 days it runs, including both national hunt and flat races. The largest event on the calendar is undoubtedly the Guinness Kerry National which takes place on the Wednesday of the Festival. The event runs over 3 miles and has a prize pool of €200,000for competitors.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there is a huge range of events on the Irish calendar for all racing fans. If you’re looking to see the highest stakes and level of competition in Irish horse racing, the Irish Grand National or Irish Champion Stakes are for you. However, if you’re looking for a more family-oriented event with some great races, you should check out the Listowel Harvest Festival!
