Since 1866, the Irish Derby has been the highlight event on the Curragh calendar, and it is held over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs at The Curragh racecourse in County Kildare. The Irish version of the Epsom Derby is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies and is held three weeks after the English event. The Curragh is one of the many beautiful racecourses in Ireland, with the spectacular Laytown Racecourse the one that everybody wants a ticket to when racing resumes there on September 08 2022.
Is there Horse Racing in Ireland – Horse Racing Ireland is the island of Ireland’s regulating authority for horse racing. It is headquartered in Curragh, County Kildare, near the Curragh Racecourse. Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) was established in 2001, following the Irish Horseracing Authority, established in 1994 as the successor to the Racing Board, which was established in 1945. The objective of the current HRI is to “establish and promote Ireland as an international center of excellence for horse racing and breeding.”
Like most other sports, horse racing is conducted on an all-Ireland basis. Hence the HRI is in charge of racing in both the Republic of Ireland (which has 24 racecourses) and Northern Ireland (which has two racecourses). The British Horseracing Authority’s jurisdiction does not cover Northern Ireland.
The HRI owns Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Navan, and Tipperary racecourses and regulatory and promotional roles with the sector making a considerable contribution to the Irish economy. According to HRI data, bloodstock sales, Tote betting, and racecourse attendance increased significantly in 2011, signaling a favorable turnaround for the sector, which had seen a severe decline in nearly all categories since 2007.
Horse Racing in Ireland – A Rich History
Horse racing is inextricably interwoven into Irish culture and society. It has a long history on the island and is recorded in some of the oldest documents. Domestically, racing is one of the most popular spectator sports in Ireland, and on the world stage, Ireland is one of the leading manufacturers and trainers of Thoroughbred horses. The Irish horse racing business is inextricably intertwined with the United Kingdom, with Irish horses often participating and winning on the British racing circuit.
The First World War did not result in the abolition of horse racing, and Thoroughbreds were not among the 300,000 horses used during that period. Although race meetings were banned for six weeks during the 1916 Rising, they resumed immediately afterwards.
Following concerns about the Thoroughbreds’ expansive consumption of oats in the early 1900s, horse racing was briefly suspended on May 4, 1917. The prohibition sparked widespread outrage, particularly in Ireland, where 20,000 people were said to be working in the troubled racing sector.
Many attempts were made in the post-independence period to regulate and maintain the horse racing business in Ireland, and a greater effort was made to promote Irish horses overseas. The Irish Free State legislated to allow off-course betting as early as 1926, and the Tote was formed in 1930 to provide money for the business.
The Emergency that preceded World War II allegedly helped horse racing by increasing spectator numbers due to limitations on international and vehicular travel. The forerunner of Horse Racing Ireland, the Irish Racing Board, was established in 1945 to regulate the industry’s finances, followed by the Irish Horse Authority in 1995 and Horse Racing Ireland in 2001.
These organizations’ initiatives have helped the sector grow from strength to strength. The Irish horse racing sector is worth €1 billion annually, employs over 14,000 people, and is a major worldwide participant.
Horse Racing in Ireland – The Breeding Explosion
In Ireland, thoroughbred breeding is a significant economic sector. Ireland has nearly 43,000 Thoroughbreds, accounting for 35% of the nation’s equine population. The country has more horses per capita than any other European country.
More than 80% of these Irish-bred Thoroughbreds are sold to 37 countries, producing an estimated €229 million in revenue yearly, with over 80% of these exports being to the United Kingdom. Ireland is the leading producer of Thoroughbreds in the EU, accounting for 40% of the EU’s total and the fourth-largest in the world.
It has been suggested that the success of Irish Thoroughbreds, both at home and abroad, is due in part to the climate and geography of the country, with the wet, temperate climate and limestone-rich soil encouraging the growth of calcium-containing grass. In addition, the mild temperatures and lack of seasonal variability allow for year-round grazing.
The Most Picturesque Racecourse in the World
One of the twenty-eight Racecourses in Ireland, and arguably the most picturesque in the world, is Laytown Racecourse. It is a horse racing venue on the beach at Laytown, County Meath, Ireland. Laytown is unique in the Irish racing calendar as it is the only race event run on a beach under the Rules of Racing. The first recorded race meeting in Laytown was in 1868.
If you are a horse racing lover and love traveling, attending a race meeting at this iconic venue is a must for the bucket list of any horse racing lover. Who would want to watch a horse race and immediately dip your toes into the waves after the horses have hit the finishing line. Their next meeting is scheduled for September 08 2022. Be there if you can.
Racing in Ireland – Iconic
Ireland is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries to go racing. With twenty-eight racecourses with The Curragh at the forefront of flat racing and the incredibly beautiful Laytown racecourse on the beach, it is not difficult to see why punters flock to the races in their thousands.
The Curragh is the home of the Irish Derby and the base of globe-trotting Dermot Weld, and with a dearth of racing daily, it is not difficult to see why Ireland continues to produce top-class yearlings annually.
Racing in Ireland has gone from strength to strength under the Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) guidance. That, coupled with the explosion of Stud Farms as well, has made Ireland a destination of choice for all prospective trainers, jockeys and owners.