The Galway Races takes place for seven days in a row at the end of July each year© Photo Healy Racing
Having been mentioned in some of the earliest texts from the island, horse racing is certainly an important part of Irish culture and society and it is among the most watched sports in the country. It is also a very popular category in sports betting sites. Internationally, Ireland is among the best producers, trainers and riders of Thoroughbred horses, which are specially bred for racing.
History
The first races in Ireland are believed to have taken place as early as 110 BC when horse racing was mentioned in an ancient text. There were also mentions in the following centuries, but there was no official record up until 1603 when a royal warrant entitled the Governor of Derry to hold markets and fairs in which horse races could be arranged. Horse racing was extremely popular throughout the 17th century, as it was mentioned by many aristocrats of that time.
In the next few centuries, horse racing would evolve into a legitimate and regulated sport, becoming increasingly popular but also profitable for the country, as it attracted international interest in the races and the sale of horses.
Types of Races
Flat racing is the most traditional form of racing in which horses compete on a flat surface ranging from five furlongs to over two miles. Different breeds can be used for flat racing with the Thoroughbred horses being the most popular. Worldwide, it mostly takes place on a grass surface but there is an increasing amount of artificial surfaces including at Dundalk in Ireland. In Ireland, the flat racing season runs for 7 months, from March to November while on the sand at Dundalk flat racing continues throughout the winter months.
Punchestown Festival is at the end of April© Photo Healy Racing
National Hunt racing, also called Jump racing, is where horses are required to jump various obstacles set on course ranging in distance from two miles to four and a half miles. The birth of National Hunt racing can be traced back to north Co. Cork in 1752 when a famous race took place between the church steeples of the towns of Buttevant and Doneraile. National Hunt racing takes place throughout the year in Ireland but the main part of the season runs from October to the end of April.
You can view all the up coming racing fixtures for both Flat and National Hunt racing here
Racecourses and Major Festivals
There are currently 26 racecourses in Ireland, which is the most per capita in the world. Over 1.3 million people attend these racecourses annually with crowds that exceed 100,000 attending the Punchestown Festival in April and the Galway Races in July.
Some other notable races include the Irish Derby, the Irish Oaks, the Irish Champion Stakes, the Irish 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas and the Irish Grand National which is held at Fairyhouse racecourse in Co. Meath on Easter Monday each year .
Horse Breeding
Thoroughbred breeding is of major economic significance for Ireland as it generates over €338 million in public sales annually of which almost €200 million is foreign investment. The Irish-bred Thoroughbreds are exported to over 37 countries in the world but mainly in Great Britain and the EU. Ireland is the main horse breeding nation in the world mainly due to its ideal climate and geography. Annually around one fifth of the top 100 thoroughbreds in International rankings are bred in Ireland.
Horse Racing in Irish Society
Ireland is traditionally known as a “horse nation”. The racing and breeding industries are estimated to employ around 30,000 people either directly or indirectly and are an important part of the fabric of rural Ireland.
Attendances at race meetings have dipped over the last decade at all but the big days as the country was in recession but now that the economy is growing again there is a more positive outlook for racing. The headquarters of Irish racing is at the Curragh in Co. Kildare and that famous racecourse has recently completed a major redevelopment of its facilities at a cost of €81 million.
