Discover the Excitement, Passion and Beauty of Irish Horse Racing
The beat of the hooves, the roar of the crowd, the thrill of the first race bet…Ireland was born and bred for the excitement of horse racing!
There are a whopping 26 race courses in Ireland, 22 of which offer both National Hunt, and flat track meets visited by an average of 1.5 million spectators annually.
Courses such as County Down, Ballintrobe and Down Royal welcome guests with legendary Irish hospitality, friendliness, grand cräic!
It is said that the Irish are more inclined to joyful exuberance, passionate outbursts, and displays of emotion, than almost any other people.
That said, imagine being part of the pure, undiluted enthusiasm of one of Ireland’s most exciting sports…horse racing. When in Ireland, you may want to partake in the revelry!
Mick’s Custom Irish Tours has all the information, insight, and insider information to ensure you have the best possible experience at the sport of kings. We can guide you to the best tracks and events, as well as the ones closest to where you’ll be going in Ireland.
Irish Thoroughbreds
Although thoroughbreds were originally developed in England, Ireland eagerly embraced the breed and is now second only to Kentucky in the breeding of quality thoroughbreds (according to the “International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds”).
Its lush pastures and fertile soil make Ireland the perfect breeding place for these majestic animals.
The most renowned horse breeding farm in Ireland is Coolmore in County Tipperary. The premiere horse race is the Irish Derby (‘darby’), held at Curragh, having begun in 1866.
Though more famous for racing, thoroughbreds in
Ireland were used for more than just flat racing and steeple chasing. They were used to pull carts, hunt fox, and accompany men into war.
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- Fox Hunt
When crossed with native Irish ponies, the
thoroughbred in 
Ireland produced outstanding horses for jumping and showing.
The sport of steeple chasing is commonly believed to have originated in Ireland. It got its name from the legendary race in 1752, where two contestants, Cornelius O’Callaghan and Edmund Blake, were said to have raced their Irish Hunters from one church to another, four miles away, with the church’s steeple just seen in the distance.
They raced in a straight line so their horses had to jump over several gates, fences, and hedges. As Irish legend, it likely has more truth than fable to it.
Did You Know?
The most celebrated thoroughbred foaled in Ireland
was Red Rum (1965 – 1995). 
A bay gelding, ‘Rummy’ three times won the world’s most
famous and difficult steeple chase race, England’s Grand
National, in 1973 and 1974, and again in 1977. Rummy also
went on to appear on television, in parades, and at charity
events after he retired from racing.
