Leopardstown Racecourse

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Heading for the start with Wicklow Mountains in background
Heading for the start with Wicklow Mountains in background

Leopardstown Racecourse ( 53°15′57″N, 6°11′21″W) is an Irish horse-racing venue. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Located in county Dublin, a few miles south of the Dublin city centre. The course was built by Captain George Quin and modelled on Sandown Park Racecourse in England.

Completed in 1888 and acquired by the Horse Racing Board of Ireland in 1967. Many important races are held here and racing takes place all year round, with about 22 meetings per year.

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

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[edit] 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. [1] A farmers market is also on-site every Friday. [2]

[edit] Major races

The Irish Champion stakes is perhaps 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.

[edit] Flat

[edit] National Hunt

  • The Pierse Hurdle (Jan)
  • The AIG Europe Champion Hurdle(Jan)
  • The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (Feb)
  • Deloitte Novice Hurdle (Feb)
  • Durkan New Homes Novice Chase (Dec)
  • Paddy Power Chase (Dec)
  • Lexus Chase (Dec)
  • bewleyshotels.com December Festival Hurdle (Dec)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links


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