Leopardstown Racecourse

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Stand at Leopardstown Racecourse LepRacecourse.JPG
Stand at Leopardstown Racecourse
Heading for the start with Wicklow Mountains in background Leopardstown Racecourse2-04.jpg
Heading for the start with Wicklow Mountains in background

Leopardstown Racecourse 53°15′57″N6°11′21″W / 53.26583°N 6.18917°W / 53.26583; -6.18917 is a horse-racing course in Leopardstown, approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) south of Dublin city centre, in Ireland. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing.

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Built by Captain George Quin and modelled on Sandown Park Racecourse in England, it was completed in 1888 and acquired by the Horse Racing Board of Ireland in 1967. Many important races are held there; racing takes place all year round, with about 22 meetings per year.

In 1941, Royal Air Force pilot Hugh Verity, who flew many secret agents at night into and out of farm fields in France, force-landed on the racecourse. He was interned briefly before escaping back to England. [1]

The Leopardstown Hall of Fame honours famous Irish horse racing trainers, jockeys and horses, including Vincent O'Brien, Tom Dreaper, Pat Taaffe and Pat Eddery, Arkle, Dawn Run, Levmoss and Nijinsky.[ citation needed ]

Facilities

Leopardstown golf course and club house is situated in the middle of the racetrack. The course also has designer shops, a fitness centre, the Leopardstown Pavilion, Fillies Café Bar, the Silken Glider Restaurant, the Paddock Food Hall, Club 92 nightclub, Madigans pub, and numerous bars and snack areas. [2] A farmers' market is also on-site every Friday. [3] The "Bulmers Live at Leopardstown" music festival takes place every summer between June and August. Acts such as Horslips, the Human League, Johnny Marr, and the Boomtown Rats have performed there.[ citation needed ]

Notable races

MonthDay/DateRace NameTypeGradeDistanceAge/Sex
JanuarySaturday Killiney Novice Chase ChaseGrade 32m 3f5yo +
JanuarySaturday Ladbrokes Hurdle HurdleHandicap2m4yo +
JanuarySunday Irish Champion Hurdle HurdleGrade 12m4yo +
JanuarySunday Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle HurdleGrade 22m 4f5yo +
JanuarySunday Arkle Novice Chase ChaseGrade 12m 1f5yo +
FebruarySunday Irish Gold Cup ChaseGrade 13m5yo +
FebruarySunday Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase ChaseGrade 12m 5f5yo +
FebruarySunday Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle HurdleGrade 12m 2f5yo +
FebruarySunday Spring Juvenile Hurdle HurdleGrade 12m4yo only
MarchSunday Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes FlatListed1m3yo only
MarchSunday Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes FlatGroup 37f3yo only
AprilWednesday Heritage Stakes FlatListed1m4yo +
MaySunday Amethyst Stakes FlatGroup 31m3yo +
MaySunday Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial FlatGroup 31m 2f3yo only
MaySunday Cornelscourt Stakes FlatGroup 31m3yo only f
JuneFriday Saval Beg Stakes FlatListed1m 6f4yo +
JuneThursday Ballycorus Stakes FlatGroup 37f3yo +
JuneThursday Ballyogan Stakes FlatGroup 36f3yo + f
JulyThursday Silver Flash Stakes FlatGroup 37f2yo only f
JulyThursday Meld Stakes FlatGroup 31m 1f3yo +
JulyThursday Tyros Stakes FlatGroup 37f2yo only
AugustThursday Ballyroan Stakes FlatGroup 31m 4f3yo +
AugustThursday Desmond Stakes FlatGroup 31m3yo +
SeptemberSaturday Irish Champion Stakes FlatGroup 11m 2f3yo +
SeptemberSaturday Golden Fleece Stakes FlatGroup 31m2yo only
SeptemberSaturday Matron Stakes FlatGroup 11m3yo + f
SeptemberSaturday Kilternan Stakes FlatGroup 31m 2f3yo +
OctoberSaturday Killavullan Stakes FlatGroup 37f2yo only
NovemberSunday Eyrefield Stakes FlatListed1m 1f2yo only
DecemberSt. Stephen's Day Fort Leney Novice Chase ChaseGrade 13m4yo +
DecemberSt. Stephen's Day O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle HurdleGrade 22m3yo only
December27th Paddy's Reward Club Chase ChaseGrade 12m 1f5yo +
December27th Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle HurdleGrade 12m4yo +
December28th Christmas Hurdle HurdleGrade 13m4yo +
December28th Savills Chase ChaseGrade 13m5yo +
December29th December Hurdle HurdleGrade 12m4yo +
December29th Leopardstown E.B.F. Mares Hurdle HurdleGrade 32m 4f4yo + m

The Irish Champion stakes is the most important race at the course and one of the World Series of Racing. It is held every September and attracts the cream of racing thoroughbreds.

Transport

Leopardstown Racecourse was originally served by Foxrock railway station on the Harcourt Street line until it closed in 1958. A Luas Green Line stop is located in the top of Carrickmines at the southern end of the racecourse. However, as of January 2016 it remains unopened and devoid of all signage, with trams passing through non-stop.[ citation needed ] The nearest active Luas stop is Central Park.

See also

References

  1. ↑ T. Ryle Dwyer. Guests of the State: The Story of Allied & Axis Servicemen Interned in Ireland During World War II. Irish Books & Media. 1 November 1994. Quoted in "War pilot escapee dies", The Independent, 2001
  2. ↑ "List of Facilities". Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  3. ↑ "Irish Farmers Market website". Archived from the original on 22 May 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
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