Irish Horse Racing Venues: Fairyhouse

Fairyhouse Racecourse, located in County Meath, is one of Ireland’s premier tracks. It’s the home of some of Irish horse racing’s biggest fixtures and hosts many fantastic meetings throughout the year. Located roughly 23km from the centre of Dublin, the course is home to the Irish Grand National and is easily accessible by road, rail and bus. With an incredible history, it remains one of the top destinations in Ireland for racegoers hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite runners.

A History of Fairyhouse Racecourse

Fairyhouse opened in 1848, with the first race at the new venue being a point-to-point fixture. The course slowly and steadily built up its reputation as a top venue and, in 1870, scored a considerable coup in being handed the Irish Grand National for the first time.

Formerly owned and operated by Fairyhouse Club Ltd, the course changed hands in 2007 when Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) stepped in to take over the financially troubled venue. This helped to continue the viability and high prominence of the venue in the sport.

The Fairyhouse Circuit

Fairyhouse is a wide, galloping, right-hand circuit that hosts both flat and National Hunt racing. The course distance is rated at one mile and six furlongs and is square-shaped and level, nestled deep among some beautiful green fields in the Irish countryside.

Fairyhouse has 11 fences per circuit for chasing, with roughly a one-furlong run-in. There are eight hurdles on the hurdles circuit.

Many famous scenes have played out on the Fairyhouse Racecourse finishing straight, which is three furlongs and is on a slight uphill gradient, making runners need to dig in just that little bit extra.

However, the gradient is not seen as anything that gives any one style of runner an advantage which makes Fairyhouse an excellent track for even contests.

What makes Fairyhouse special?

Fairyhouse Racecourse has two magnificent grandstands and a host of facilities. The Bobbyjo Bistro overlooks the Parade Ring, while the Suite Level Restaurant overlooks the finish line and has a stunning private grandstand balcony. Private suites with the best views at the venue are situated at the top of both the Powers and the Jameson Grandstands.

With racing not taking place every day of the year, Fairyhouse is also open for other events throughout the year, such as markets and music festivals. With a vast variety of races and some of the country’s leading fixtures, Fairyhouse is one of Ireland’s most popular and special racing venues.

Irish Grand National History at Fairyhouse

As the name of the race suggests, the Fairyhouse Grand National contest is the country’s equivalent to the English Grand National at Aintree. Some horses, such as Bobbyjo and Rhyme ‘n’ Reason, have staked a prominent place in history by winning both Nationals. A horse called Sir Robert Peel took the first Fairyhouse Irish Grand National title in 1870, which had prize money of 167 sovereigns.

It’s easy for racing fans to remember when the Fairyhouse Grand National is coming up, as it’s hosted annually on Easter Monday and is part of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival.

The race is run over three miles and five furlongs and can host a considerable field of up to 30 entries on the day. Since 2019, the prize purse for the Fairyhouse Grand National has been set at €500,000, with €270,000 going to the winner. It’s the most valuable and anticipated chase in the Irish racing calendar.

Trainer Tom Dreaper is the most successful trainer in the history of the Grand National, winning ten times between 1942 and 1964. He trained multiple winning horses, including the infamous Arkle and Flying Bolt.

Fairyhouse Gold Cup History

Fairyhouse Racecourse is also home to the Grade 1 Fairyhouse Gold Cup, another essential part of the massively popular Easter Festival. This is an important race because it is the top trial ahead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, so trainers are looking for big performances from their charges.

The Fairyhouse Gold Cup is a two-mile, four-furlong test on the turf with 14 fences for novice chasers to tackle. Jim Dreaper trained five Fairyhouse Gold Cup winners, and in 2023, Willie Mullins equalled the record with a win by Flame Bearer.

The great Arkle also won the Fairyhouse Gold Cup, and other famous race winners include Voix Du Reve and Galopin Des Champs.

Key Events at Fairyhouse

While the pinnacle of the racing action at Fairyhouse takes place during the Easter Festival, the track also hosts some other eye-catching days of racing. Below, we explore the racecourse highlights.

Fairyhouse Easter Festival

The Irish Grand National and the Fairyhouse Gold Cup are highlights of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival, which is spread across three top days of racing. The opening day of the meeting is Ladies Day, followed by Family Day, and the festival culminates in the big Fairyhouse Grand National Day. It is prime time to catch plenty of stars of Irish racing.

The Bobbyjo Chase Day

One of the first big Fairyhouse races of the new year is the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase. This popular fixture is run at a distance of three miles, and one furlong is a key trial ahead of the Grand National, making it a great race to judge form.

Brownstown Stakes

The highlight of the summer racing at Fairyhouse is the Brownstown Stakes. The Group 3 flat is open to fillies and mares and is a fantastic seven-furlong spectacle. The race moved to Fairyhouse from Leopardstown in 2009, becoming a major staple of the racecourse.

Fairyhouse Winter Festival

The Fairyhouse Winter Festival is one of the best Irish racing festivals of the new jumps season. This is two days of racing at the course, which includes some Grade 1 action in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, the Drinmore Novice Chase and the eye-catching Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.

The Hatton’s Grace has been running at the venue since 1994 and has always been a top Grade 1 fixture. It is run at a distance of two miles and four furlongs, with 12 hurdles. The race is scheduled annually for late November or early December.

The Royal Bond Novice Hurdle is a two-mile contest with ten hurdles. It’s a popular Grade 1 fixture, and Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer in the history of the race. The Drinmore Novice Chase is two miles and four furlongs, with 16 fences testing the novice chasers aged four and up.

Jump into January

January weekends are a busy time at Fairyhouse, with some significant features taking place on each weekend of the month. The Fairyhouse Jump into January series features the John Fowler Memorial Chase (Grade 3), the Dan Moore Handicap Chase (Grade A), and the Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle (Grade 3), among other races.

Flat Racing

During the summer, you can catch evening flat racing from May through September at Fairyhouse Racecourse, including the Ballyhane Blenheim Stakes and the previously mentioned Brownstown Stakes.

Christmas Jumper Race Day

One of the more light-hearted days of racing happens towards the end of the year with the Fairyhouse Christmas Jumper Race Day. Racegoers pack the venue for the single-day meeting, which is something of a celebration with Christmas sweaters, festive cheer, and some fantastic National Hunt jumps action to cap it off.

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