Horse Racing Venues: Dundalk

Dundalk Stadium is the only all-weather racecourse in Ireland, which gives it a special place on the racing scene.

It’s one of the few dual-purpose racing venues in Europe as well, and it taps into that exciting element by hosting the iconic Friday Night Lights series of racing. Dundalk Stadium the Friday night races are a distinctive series of weekly events that feature both racing and greyhounds on the same evening. Dundalk Stadium is an amazing, modern venue providing something for all.

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To start, let’s have a look at some essential details for any of you wanting to visit the iconic Co Louth stadium.

A history of Dundalk Racecourse

Located in County Louth, Dundalk has a long history with racing, as the sport is reported to have started there as early as 1889. With Dundalk Racecourse steeped in fantastic history, it has undergone many changes during its time in operation.

Dundalk’s prominence in the modern racing era really came about when National Hunt turf racing ended there in 2001, and a completely new direction for the venue was taken, partly because of things unfolding elsewhere. In 2000, Dundalk Ramparts Greyhound Stadium shutdown and Dundalk Stadium took full advantage of this closure

The modern Dundalk Stadium, as it’s known, was opened in 2003 having structured not only a new racetrack on top of the old turf one, but a greyhound track was installed on the inside of the new course too. The move kept greyhound racing, which had first been introduced to the area in the 1930s, going strong in the area and uniquely made Dundalk Ireland’s only dual-purpose course.

The next major revamp of Dundalk racecourse was in 2007 when the modern, innovative all-weather track, designed for flat racing only, was installed. This breathed further new spectacular life into the venue, and the move to the all-weather track was important for Irish racing, as nothing else like it existed in the country.

This addition meant that more winter fixtures could be hosted, a great boost for Irish racing in general, and with the addition of the floodlights, Dundalk offers racing deeper into the winter evenings as well, for a different kind of experience.

The Dundalk track

The Dundalk racecourse is a left-handed all-weather track. A complete circuit of the oval course is around 10 furlongs, and the length of the home straight is two and a half furlongs with the finish just before a bend.

The all-weather track is a mixture of silica sand along with recycled fibres and rubber/PVC that is coated in wax for waterproofing. It’s a tried and trusted modern surface that features at other popular venues around the world, such as Kempton Park, Deauville-La Touques Racecourse and Greyville in Durban, South Africa.

Poly-track is a popular, fair surface for jockeys to operate on, and the Dundalk track runs quickly, with horses able to get up to a nice gallop. The natural speed of the track means that there is a slight disadvantage for horses who prefer the going a little on the softer or heavier side when they are on turf tracks.

The biggest bias at Dundalk comes from the 5f sprint mark, which begins on a chute that feeds straight into the final bend of the course. That’s when a low draw is particularly helpful to get into position on the inside for attacking the bend.

Dundalk Stadium is easy to get to, sitting roughly 45 minutes from Dublin and one hour from Belfast by road, just off the M1/N1. There are accessible options by rail as well, by hopping on the Dublin-Belfast intercity Line to Dundalk Station.

Top Races At Dundalk

Dundalk is home to some great races, with the top-ranked one being the Group 3 Mercury Stakes. There are a total of 43 horse racing fixtures throughout the year at Dundalk, including the Legacy Stakes & Star Appeal Stakes. But the following are the big highlights of the calendar:

Diamond Stakes

This fixture is for 3-year-olds and up, at a distance of 1m 2½f and is held in September. The race was hosted at various other venues before it settled in Dundalk in 2008, making it Ireland’s first non-turf group race; however, the race was dropped back to Listed level in 2022. Top Irish trainer Aiden O’Brien has won the race more times than anyone else, his 2019 score with Blenheim Palace being his eighth.

Mercury Stakes

The other Group 3 at Dundalk is the Mercury Stakes, which is a 5f sprint for 2-year-olds and above, hosted in October. The Mercury Stakes was first introduced in 2008 and remains the only Group contest at Dundalk, having been awarded its Group 3 status in 2018.

The 2020 Mercury Stakes was particularly poignant as it celebrated the memory of former Irish Champion jockey Pat Smullen who passed away the same year. Poignantly, Smullen won his very first and very last career races at Dundalk Stadium.

Patton Stakes

Another of the high-profile fixtures at Dundalk is the Patton Stakes, previously a Listed 1m contest that is typically held in March. The race was inaugurated in 2012 and in 2018 it became part of the European pathway on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Previously a Group 3 contest, it was downgraded to Listed level in 2024 but is still one of the biggest on the Dundalk calendar, regardless.

Cooley Stakes

The Irish EBF Listed Cooley Stakes is a race for fillies and mares aged three years or older. It’s a 1-mile contest that is typically held either in late October or early November. The Cooley Stakes was introduced in 2007 when the venue was reopened, with great Irish trainers Jim Bolger, Aidan O’Brien and Ger Lyons all having tasted success in the contest.

Fright Night Lights

Friday Night racing is a big feature of the Dundalk Stadium calendar. Starting in late September, Dundalk hosts floodlit Friday action every week through to late December. It is a great way to get a taste of both racing and greyhounds at the same meeting, for a unique, unforgettable night of action that you just can’t get anywhere else in the country.

Greyhound Racing at Dundalk

Greyhound racing makes up a large part of Dundalk Stadium’s modern identity and it is hosted throughout the year at the venue on a 550 yard track. That was a significant increase in distance from the 440-yard track that the old Dundalk Ramparts Greyhound Stadium track used to be, making Dundalk a much stronger galloping venue for the dogs.

One of the feature greyhound races at the venue is the annual Dundalk International. The race, which was inaugurated in 1968, is one of the biggest, richest greyhound races in the country and an important fixture on the calendar alongside the Irish Sprint Cup, also hosted at Dundalk Stadium.

What makes Dundalk special?

The repurposing of the site into a dual course for both racing and greyhounds was a crucial shift that has made Dundalk so special today, and a very busy venue too. The all-weather track is another huge positive for the course, with racing under the floodlights a big attraction for visitors.

With spectacular views of the Cooley Mountains, the Co Louth treasure that is Dundalk Stadium is located in a wonderful countryside setting. There’s a big community feel about Dundalk which also hosts an annual Ladies’ Day in the summer. Combined with its modern buildings, modern track and stables which can house up to 130 horses, the place is very special.

Dundalk Stadium has hospitality packages for racegoers, special deals on tickets, restaurants and there are memberships available. In 2023 the racecourse celebrated the 20th anniversary of opening its doors as a dual-purpose venue. It featured a big bash of an evening of horse and greyhound racing, a night which was free for racehorses, and had spot prizes and giveaways among the festivities.

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