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There are 26 registered racecourses in Ireland, and hundreds of prestigious horse racing events that take place throughout the year on these tracks. So, which are the biggest events that you should be aware of? In our article we will discuss the top four occasions that you should pencil into your calendar.
In 1869, the first Galway Races festival was held as a two-day event and 40,000 spectators gathered to watch. Ever since, the famous horse races have been gaining more and more traction. In contrast to its launch, the Galway Races 2023 had an estimated 150,000 spectators, proving how well-established it now is.
The seven-day festival is located on the Ballybrit Racecourse in Galway and is held every year on the last Monday in June. In 2024, the event took place between Monday 29th July to Sunday 4th August. Ticket prices range from €20 to €30 but are understandably more expensive on the day. On the other hand, you can watch the races on television, or take advantage of the free live streams on popular Irish betting sites.
The general order of this Galway Races is demonstrated in the table below, which includes the 2024 structure:
| MONDAY (Opening Day) | TUESDAY (80’ s Night) | WEDNESDAY (Country Day) | THURSDAY (Ladies Day) | FRIDAY (Most Stylish) | SATURDAY (The Weekender) | SUNDAY (Mad Hatters Day) | |
| NOTABLE RACES | The Connaught Hotel QR Handicap | The Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap | The Galway Plate | The Guinness Galway Hurdle | The Guinness Handicap | The BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle | The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap |
Altogether there are 53 races, with a combined jackpot of €2.1 million.
The Irish Derby is a is a 3-year-old collie and filly Group 1 flat horse race. It is a mile and four furlongs, held at the Curragh Racecourse either late June or early July each year. In 2024, it was held on Sunday, 30th June in the afternoon. The best streaming services to watch in were the trustworthy Irish betting sites Paddy Power and QuinnBet, that provided punters a reliable broadcast of the highly anticipated race.
The winning horse was Los Angeles, receiving an impressive €725,000 for taking first place, ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by Aidan O’Brien. The second place was taken by Sunway, receiving €250,000, ridden by Oisin Murphy and trained by D Menuisier. The third place was taken by Ambiente Friendly, receiving €125,000, ridden by R Havlin and trained by J R Fanshaw. These huge grand prizes and one of the main reasons the race is so popular.
The Punchestown Racecourse is found in Naas, County Kildare. It is held every year at the end of April, and in 2025 will be convened from 29th April to 3rd May. The revered festival lasts five days and usually hosts 40 thrilling racing, 12 of which are Grade 1 Races. There is an amalgamation of races from luxurious National Hunt to exciting hurdles and chases.
The most popular events include:
The Punchestown Festival has worked with countless renowned bookmakers over the years including Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, and most recently William Hill since 2021. This is the reason why many races have been renamed, for example the William Hill Champion Chase (also known as the Champion Chase). The overall prize fund is worth over a whopping €3.36 million, distributed amongst the races.
This well-known festival is an important National Hunt event, but is also famous for being a indulgent culinary experience, and a chance to immerse yourself in creative fashion choices.
The Tramore August Festival has been operating since 1807. It has a reputation of having a rich history of epic horse races and entertainment and is undoubtedly one of the biggest horse racing events in Ireland.
The four-day event should be the pinnacle of your summer. There are seven races which are primarily National Hunt, however at least one flat race is often added to the fixtures. Over the course of the event, there are races, a Style Evening, barbeques, live music and many other activities before the Grand Finale. It is also located on the peaceful waterfront, yet the races are exhilarating and unpredictable. Famous horses, jockeys and trainers from around the world gather to compete.
Also on the racecourse are other popular races that are separate from the Tramore August Festival, but just as important:
The Galway Races, Irish Derby Festival, Punchestown Festival and Tramore August Festival are arguably the biggest horse racing events in Ireland. They feature incredible races such as steeplechases, hurdles, and flats. Other notable festivals include the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse, and Fairyhouse Easter Festival.
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