Leopardstown Racecourse

Leopardstown Racecourse 53°15′57″N 6°11′21″W is an Irish horse-racing venue, located in Leopardstown, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, 8 kilometres (5 mi) south of the Dublin city centre. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing.

Heading for the start with Wicklow Mountains in background

The course, built by Captain George Quin and modelled on Sandown Park Racecourse in England, was completed in 1888 and acquired by the Horse Racing Board of Ireland in 1967. Many important races are held here and racing takes place all year round, with about 22 meetings per year.

In 1941, noted Royal Air Force pilot Hugh Verity, who flew many secret agents at night into and out of farm fields in France, force landed on the Race Course. He was interned briefly before escaping back to England.[1]

The Leopardstown Hall of Fame honours famous Irish horse racing trainers, jockeys and horses like, Vincent O'Brien, Tom Dreaper, Pat Taaffe and Pat Eddery, Arkle, Dawn Run, Levmoss and Nijinsky.

Facilities
The stand at Leopardstown

Leopardstown golf course and club house is situated in the middle of the racetrack. The course also has designer shops, a fitness centre, the Leopardstown Pavilion, Fillies Café Bar, the Silken Glider Restaurant, the Paddock Food Hall, Club 92 nightclub, Madigans pub, and numerous bars and snack areas.[2] A farmers market is also on-site every Friday.[3] The 'Bulmers Live at Leopardstown' music festival takes place every summer between June and August. Acts such as Horslips, the Human League, Johnny Marr, and the Boomtown Rats have all performed here.

Notable races
Month Day/Date Race Name Type Grade Distance Age/Sex
January Saturday Killiney Novice Chase Chase Grade 3 2m 3f 5yo +
January Saturday Ladbrokes Hurdle Hurdle Handicap 2m 4yo +
January Sunday Irish Champion Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 2m 4yo +
January Sunday Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Hurdle Grade 2 2m 4f 5yo +
January Sunday Arkle Novice Chase Chase Grade 1 2m 1f 5yo +
February Sunday Irish Gold Cup Chase Grade 1 3m 5yo +
February Sunday Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase Chase Grade 1 2m 5f 5yo +
February Sunday Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 2m 2f 5yo +
February Sunday Spring Juvenile Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 2m 4yo only
March Sunday Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes Flat Listed 1m 3yo only
March Sunday Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes Flat Group 3 7f 3yo only
May Sunday Amethyst Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 3yo +
May Sunday Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Flat Group 3 1m 2f 3yo only
May Sunday Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial Flat Group 3 1m 3yo only f
June Friday Saval Beg Stakes Flat Listed 1m 6f 4yo +
June Thursday Ballycorus Stakes Flat Group 3 7f 3yo +
June Thursday Ballyogan Stakes Flat Group 3 6f 3yo + f
July Thursday Silver Flash Stakes Flat Group 3 7f 2yo only f
July Thursday Meld Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 1f 3yo +
July Thursday Tyros Stakes Flat Group 3 7f 2yo only
August Thursday Ballyroan Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 4f 3yo +
August Thursday Desmond Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 3yo +
September Saturday Irish Champion Stakes Flat Group 1 1m 2f 3yo +
September Saturday Golden Fleece Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 2yo only
September Saturday Matron Stakes (Ireland) Flat Group 1 1m 3yo + f
September Saturday Kilternan Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 2f 3yo +
October Saturday Killavullan Stakes Flat Group 3 7f 2yo only
November Sunday Eyrefield Stakes Flat Listed 1m 1f 2yo only
December St. Stephen's Day Racing Post Novice Chase Chase Grade 1 2m 1f 4yo +
December St. Stephen's Day Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle Hurdle Grade 2 2m 3yo only
December 27th Paddy's Reward Club "Sugar Paddy" Chase Chase Grade 1 2m 1f 5yo +
December 27th Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 2m 4yo +
December 28th Christmas Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 3m 4yo +
December 28th Savills Chase Chase Grade 1 3m 5yo +
December 29th December Festival Hurdle Hurdle Grade 1 2m 4yo +
December 29th Leopardstown E.B.F. Mares Hurdle Hurdle Grade 3 2m 4f 4yo + m
December 29th Fort Leney Novice Chase Chase Grade 1 3m 4yo +

The Irish Champion stakes is the most important race at the course and one of the World Series of Racing. It is held every September and attracts the cream of racing thoroughbreds.

Transport

Leopardstown Racecourse was originally served by Foxrock railway station on the Harcourt Street line until it closed in 1958. A Luas Green Line stop is located in the top of Carrickmines at the southern end of the racecourse. However, as of January 2016 it remains unopened and devoid of all signage, with trams passing through non-stop. The nearest active Luas stop is Central Park.

See also

References
  1. T. Ryle Dwyer. Guests of the State: The Story of Allied & Axis Servicemen Interned in Ireland During World War II. Irish Books & Media. Nov. 1 1994. Quoted in "War pilot escapee dies". The Independent. 2001
  2. "List of Facilities". Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  3. "Irish Farmers Market website". Archived from the original on 22 May 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
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