Leopardstown Racecourse is a horse-racing course in Leopardstown, approximately south of Dublin city centre, in Ireland. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing.
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.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
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.
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. A farmers' market is also on-site every Friday. 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.
Notable races Month Day/Date Race Name Type Grade Distance Age/SexSaturday Killiney Novice ChaseChase Grade 35yo +Saturday Ladbrokes HurdleHurdle Handicap4yo +Sunday Irish Champion HurdleHurdle Grade 14yo +Sunday Golden Cygnet Novice HurdleHurdle Grade 25yo +Sunday Arkle Novice ChaseChase Grade 15yo +Sunday Irish Gold CupChase Grade 15yo +Sunday Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice ChaseChase Grade 15yo +Sunday Chanelle Pharma Novice HurdleHurdle Grade 15yo +Sunday Spring Juvenile HurdleHurdle Grade 14yo onlySunday Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial StakesFlat Listed3yo onlySunday Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial StakesFlat Group 33yo onlyWednesday Heritage StakesFlat Listed4yo +Sunday Amethyst StakesFlat Group 33yo +Sunday Derrinstown Stud Derby TrialFlat Group 33yo onlySunday Cornelscourt StakesFlat Group 33yo only fFriday Saval Beg StakesFlat Listed4yo +Thursday Ballycorus StakesFlat Group 33yo +Thursday Ballyogan StakesFlat Group 33yo + fThursday Silver Flash StakesFlat Group 32yo only fThursday Meld StakesFlat Group 33yo +Thursday Tyros StakesFlat Group 32yo onlyThursday Ballyroan StakesFlat Group 33yo +Thursday Desmond StakesFlat Group 33yo +Saturday Irish Champion StakesFlat Group 13yo +Saturday Golden Fleece StakesFlat Group 12yo onlySaturday Matron StakesFlat Group 13yo + fSaturday Kilternan StakesFlat Group 33yo +Saturday Killavullan StakesFlat Group 32yo onlySunday Eyrefield StakesFlat Listed2yo onlySt. Stephen's Day Fort Leney Novice ChaseChase Grade 14yo +St. Stephen's Day O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Juvenile HurdleHurdle Grade 23yo only27th Paddy's Reward Club ChaseChase Grade 15yo +27th Paddy Power Future Champions Novice HurdleHurdle Grade 14yo +28th Christmas HurdleHurdle Grade 14yo +28th Savills ChaseChase Grade 15yo +29th December HurdleHurdle Grade 14yo +29th Leopardstown E.B.F. Mares HurdleHurdle Grade 34yo + m
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. The nearest active Luas stop is Central Park.
See also Fairyhouse racecourse List of Irish flat horse races Phoenix Stakes Trial races for the Epsom Derby
References
External links Official site