Curragh Racecourse

The Curragh
Location Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland
Coordinates 53°9′55″N 6°50′43″W / 53.16528°N 6.84528°W / 53.16528; -6.84528Coordinates: 53°9′55″N 6°50′43″W / 53.16528°N 6.84528°W / 53.16528; -6.84528
Race type Thoroughbred Flat
Notable races
  • Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1)
  • Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1)
  • Irish Derby (G1)
  • Irish Oaks (G1)
  • Irish St. Leger (G1)
Official website

The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.

History

The name "Curragh" comes from the Irish (Gaeilge) word Cuirreach, meaning "place of the running horse". The first recorded race on the plain took place in 1727, but it was used for races before then.[1] The first Derby was held in 1866, and in 1868 the Curragh was officially declared a horse racing and training facility by act of parliament.

Racing

The course is right-handed, about two miles long and horseshoe-shaped. Races up to one mile are run on a straight course. Additionally there are several training facilities on the site.

The Curragh offers the highest purses and highest quality level of Flat racing in Ireland. In 2007, 10 of Ireland's 12 Group One races will be held at the track.

The Curragh Racecourse

Notable races

Month DOW Race Name Type Grade Distance Age/Sex
March Sunday Park Express Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 3yo + f
April Sunday Gladness Stakes Flat Group 3 7f 3yo +
May Monday Athasi Stakes Flat Group 3 7f 3yo +
May Monday Mooresbridge Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 2f 4yo +
May Monday Tetrarch Stakes Flat Listed 7f 3yo only
May Saturday Ridgewood Pearl Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 4yo + f
May Saturday Irish 2,000 Guineas Flat Group 1 1m 3yo only
May Saturday Greenlands Stakes Flat Group 3 6f 3yo +
May Sunday Irish 1,000 Guineas Flat Group 1 1m 3yo only f
May Sunday Gallinule Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 2f 3yo only
May Sunday Tattersalls Gold Cup Flat Group 1 1m 2f 110y 4yo +
June Friday International Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 2f 3yo +
June Saturday Irish Derby Flat Group 1 1m 4f 3yo only
June Saturday Railway Stakes Flat Group 2 6f 2yo only
June Saturday Sapphire Stakes Flat Group 3 5f 3yo +
June Sunday Curragh Cup Flat Group 3 1m 6f 3yo +
June Sunday Pretty Polly Stakes Flat Group 1 1m 2f 3yo + f
June Sunday Balanchine Stakes Flat Group 3 6f 2yo only f
July Saturday Anglesey Stakes Flat Group 3 6f 63y 2yo only
July Saturday Minstrel Stakes Flat Group 3 7f 3yo +
July Saturday Irish Oaks Flat Group 1 1m 4f 3yo only f
July Sunday Kilboy Estate Stakes Flat Group 2 1m 1f 3yo + f
August Sunday Phoenix Sprint Stakes Flat Group 3 6f 3yo +
August Sunday Phoenix Stakes Flat Group 1 6f 2yo only
August Sunday Debutante Stakes Flat Group 2 7f 2yo only
August Sunday Royal Whip Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 2f 3yo +
August Saturday Futurity Stakes Flat Group 2 7f 2yo only
August Saturday Flying Five Stakes Flat Group 3 5f 3yo +
August Saturday Curragh Stakes Flat Listed 5f 2yo only
August Saturday Irish St Leger Trial Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 6f 3yo +
September Sunday Moyglare Stud Stakes Flat Group 1 7f 2yo only f
September Sunday Lanwades Stud Fillies' Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 1f 3yo + f
September Sunday Round Tower Stakes Flat Group 3 6f 2yo only
September Saturday Renaissance Stakes Flat Group 3 6f 3yo +
September Saturday Blandford Stakes Flat Group 2 1m 2f 3yo + f
September Sunday Vincent O'Brien Stakes Flat Group 1 7f 2yo only
September Sunday Solonaway Stakes Flat Group 2 1m 3yo +
September Sunday Irish St. Leger Flat Group 1 1m 6f 3yo +
September Sunday C. L. Weld Park Stakes Flat Group 3 7f 2yo only f
September Sunday Beresford Stakes Flat Group 2 1m 2yo only

All 5 Irish classics are run at The Curragh.

Railway Connections

Kildare railway station: On days of racing there is a shuttle bus to Curragh Racecourse. South Kildare Community Transport also serve the station providing links to Milltown, Nurney and Kildangan.[2]

Former railway station

Curragh Racecourse railway station opened in 1875, but finally closed on 7 March 1977.[3] It sometimes opens for the Irish Derby.

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, March 17, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.