Curragh Racecourse

Curragh Racecourse, often referred to as ‘the Curragh’, is the home of thoroughbred racing in Ireland. The racetrack is located in County Kildare on the Curragh plains. Curragh Racecourse is best known for hosting all five of Ireland’s most prestigious group 1 races, the Irish Classics. In addition, Curragh Racecourse hosts another five of Ireland’s twelve group 1 thoroughbred races.

Curragh Racecourse Layout

Curragh Racecourse features a 2 mile long horseshoe shaped loop, which hosts all the Irish Classics. This right-handed course has a 3 furlong uphill run in, and has traditionally favoured racehorses drawn in high number stalls in longer races. The course does not have any sharp bends and is recognised as an excellent galloping track.

Curragh Racecourse Facilities

Curragh Racecourse underwent a series of renovations at the start of the new millennium. These culminated in the construction of a new grandstand and a racecourse hotel, at an estimated cost of €100 million. As a result the racecourse is able to offer world class facilities, including restaurants, hospitality suites and overnight accommodation.

Curragh Racecourse History

Curragh Racecourse has a history stretching back to the earliest days of horse racing in Ireland. The flat Curragh plains provided ideal conditions for racing, and are believed to have hosted races as early as the first millennium BC.

The earliest mention of racing at Curragh dates back to 1727, when the plains were referred to as the Cuirreach, which means ‘racecourse’ in Gaelic. The Curragh was officially recognised as a site for horse racing and training by parliament in 1868.

The history of Curragh Racecourse is inextricably linked to that of the Irish Classics. Curragh hosted the first Irish Classic in 1866, with the inaugural running of the Irish Derby. In 1895 the Irish Oaks was added to the fixtures list at Curragh, and the Irish St. Leger had its debut at Curragh in 1915.

The Curragh Guineas were the last of the Irish Classics to be launched at the racecourse, with the Irish 2,000 Guineas first run in 1921 and the Irish 1,000 Guineas contested one year later. Over the years numerous other Irish group 1 races have had their origins at Curragh, and today the racecourse hosts 10 of the 12 Irish group 1 races.