Thurles Racecourse stages National Hunt racing and is one of only four tracks in Ireland to host jumps action exclusively. Racing takes place from October to March and is the track is home to a total of eleven fixtures.
Thurles is a right-handed oval of 1 1/4 miles with run in of 1 1/4 furlongs and an uphill finish. There are 6 hurdles and 7 fences on the jumps course. Its most valuable races are its three Grade two races, the Kinloch Brae Chase in January is the highlight of the season.
Thurles boasts an impressive history with racing introduced at the track in 1732 when its three-day festival was launched. The course is the only track in Ireland to be privately owned and the Molony family have owned it for over one hundred years. Pierce Molony took over from his father in 1974 until 2015 when he died. His wife Riona and their three daughters now oversee the running of the course.
There is a strong sense of community among racegoers at Thurles and the proud Ulster fraternity are referred to as `The Thursday Club? . Racing is a great passion for many of its regulars and will no doubt be passed on to the next generations to come.
