Curragh Racecourse
Location | Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland |
---|---|
Coordinates | 53°9′55″N 6°50′43″W / 53.16528°N 6.84528°WCoordinates: 53°9′55″N 6°50′43″W / 53.16528°N 6.84528°W |
Race type | Thoroughbred Flat |
Notable races |
|
Official website |
The Curragh Racecourse, usually referred to as simply The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred racecourse. It is situated on the Curragh plain in County Kildare, between the towns of Newbridge and Kildare.
History
The name "Curragh" comes from the Irish (Gaeilge) word Cuirreach, meaning "place of the running horse". The first recorded race on the plain took place in 1727, but it was used for races before then.[1] The first Derby was held in 1866, and in 1868 the Curragh was officially declared a horse racing and training facility by act of parliament.
Racing
The course is right-handed, about two miles long and horseshoe-shaped. Races up to one mile are run on a straight course. Additionally there are several training facilities on the site.
The Curragh offers the highest purses and highest quality level of flat racing in Ireland. In 2007, ten of Ireland's twelve Group One races were held at the track.
Notable races
Month | DOW | Race Name | Type | Grade | Distance | Age/Sex |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March | Sunday | Park Express Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m | 3yo + f |
April | Sunday | Gladness Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 3yo + |
May | Monday | Athasi Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 3yo + |
May | Monday | Mooresbridge Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 2f | 4yo + |
May | Monday | Tetrarch Stakes | Flat | Listed | 7f | 3yo only |
May | Saturday | Ridgewood Pearl Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m | 4yo + f |
May | Saturday | Irish 2,000 Guineas | Flat | Group 1 | 1m | 3yo only |
May | Saturday | Greenlands Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 6f | 3yo + |
May | Sunday | Irish 1,000 Guineas | Flat | Group 1 | 1m | 3yo only f |
May | Sunday | Gallinule Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 2f | 3yo only |
May | Sunday | Tattersalls Gold Cup | Flat | Group 1 | 1m 2f 110y | 4yo + |
June | Friday | International Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 2f | 3yo + |
June | Saturday | Irish Derby | Flat | Group 1 | 1m 4f | 3yo only |
June | Saturday | Railway Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 6f | 2yo only |
June | Saturday | Sapphire Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 5f | 3yo + |
June | Sunday | Curragh Cup | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 6f | 3yo + |
June | Sunday | Pretty Polly Stakes | Flat | Group 1 | 1m 2f | 3yo + f |
June | Sunday | Balanchine Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 6f | 2yo only f |
July | Saturday | Anglesey Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 6f 63y | 2yo only |
July | Saturday | Minstrel Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 3yo + |
July | Saturday | Irish Oaks | Flat | Group 1 | 1m 4f | 3yo only f |
July | Sunday | Kilboy Estate Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 1m 1f | 3yo + f |
August | Sunday | Phoenix Sprint Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 6f | 3yo + |
August | Sunday | Phoenix Stakes | Flat | Group 1 | 6f | 2yo only |
August | Sunday | Debutante Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 7f | 2yo only |
August | Sunday | Royal Whip Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 2f | 3yo + |
August | Saturday | Futurity Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 7f | 2yo only |
August | Saturday | Flying Five Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 5f | 3yo + |
August | Saturday | Curragh Stakes | Flat | Listed | 5f | 2yo only |
August | Saturday | Irish St Leger Trial Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 6f | 3yo + |
September | Sunday | Moyglare Stud Stakes | Flat | Group 1 | 7f | 2yo only f |
September | Sunday | Lanwades Stud Fillies' Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 1f | 3yo + f |
September | Sunday | Round Tower Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 6f | 2yo only |
September | Saturday | Renaissance Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 6f | 3yo + |
September | Saturday | Blandford Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 1m 2f | 3yo + f |
September | Sunday | Vincent O'Brien Stakes | Flat | Group 1 | 7f | 2yo only |
September | Sunday | Solonaway Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 1m | 3yo + |
September | Sunday | Irish St. Leger | Flat | Group 1 | 1m 6f | 3yo + |
September | Sunday | C. L. Weld Park Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 2yo only f |
September | Sunday | Beresford Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 1m | 2yo only |
All five Irish classics are run at The Curragh.
Transport
Bus and coach
On race days, there are shuttle buses from Kildare railway station to The Curragh. Dublin Coach's routes to Portlaoise and Ennis also serve the racecourse on these days.[2]
Former railway stations
The racecourse was once served by two railway stations: Curragh Mainline on the main Dublin–Cork line, which opened in 1846, and Curragh Racecourse at the end of a short branch to the grandstand, which opened in 1875. Curragh Racecourse station closed in 1977 and the branch was subsequently lifted, while Curragh Mainline fell into disuse in the early 2000s.[3][4]
References
- ↑ Curragh.ie – About/History
- ↑ "Go to the Races – Bus Services to Curragh Racecourse". Dublin Coach. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ↑ Ayres, Bob (2003). "Irish Railway Stations" (PDF). Railscot. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
- ↑ "Curragh". eiretrains.com. Retrieved 19 September 2016.