There are only two racecourses in Northern Ireland, Downpatrick and Down Royal. The Downpatrick course is situated about a mile from the town of Downpatrick in County Down.
Always busy in the summer months, it?s a great racecourse to visit. Belfast is less than an hour away by car, so it is within easy reach of the big city.
Downpatrick is a right-handed track with a one and a quarter-mile circuit and is also quite narrow. It?s undulating with numerous turns, which means long-striding horses who like a galloping track tend not to thrive there.
There?s also a stiff uphill finish to contend with, as well as some tricky obstacles which need to be jumped on angles. Almost circular rather than oval, it?s certainly not the most conventional of courses.
The biggest race of the year is the Ulster National, usually taking place at the end of March or the start of April, and it is run over an extended 3m4f.
Downpatrick is Ireland?s oldest racecourse, and the first race meeting took place in 1685 at the old grounds a couple of miles away. Racing has been taking place at the current location for more than 150 years and local racegoers have created a famously friendly atmosphere.
It?s also interesting to note that Downpatrick is one of only three courses in Ireland which exclusively hosts National Hunt racing, with the other two tracks being Kilbeggan and Wexford.
HM the Queen Mother visited the course in 1962 and it was a very successful excursion, as her runner Laffy came out on top in the Ulster National.
