Stag do

I'm not from Dublin and don't know the place but I'd say Leopardstown on a Thursday night might be what you are after, it's in summer and close enough to town. I think Killarney is close enough to the town as well.

Where you from? Are you keen racing fans? What time of year?

York or Chester central enclosure, bring your own beer and 6 quid to get in. No cues for bars then!

Aintree evening meetings are good. (National a bit to busy)

Thanks for the responses

Neill, was thinking about maybe staying in dublin and going to the Curragh.  Have been to Dublin a couple of times but have never been racing while I've been there.

Chrisitian, I live in Suffolk but willing to travel (although Happy Valley may be a bit too far!).  I am a keen racing fan and there will be another couple of racing fans...plus about 15 who enjoy a day at the races but don't follow the sport.  Looking at summer 2012...most likely August.

I had thought about York but wondered whether there is enough going on at night (was there last weekend with the other half and we didn't see much going on when we were walking about in the centre on Saturday evening)?  Also, would a large group have problems getting into places there?

From a racing perspective Glorious Goodwood is excellent (late July/early Aug.) when you're in a big group, and there's plenty of groups who do boozy pre/post picnics in the car park. The pubs in nearby Chichester (~3 mile bus ride) are ok for a few drinks afterwards, I definitely doubt the place is big/lively enough for a Stag Do...

Maybe you could base yourselves in e.g. Brighton which has plenty of nightlife (not as 'dodgy' as it sounds!). Also there's nearby Hove dogtrack (if still going) if you want to try to continue the punting theme.

Alternatively, Chester, as already suggested is a great place though I don't know the dates of their Summer meetings. I've been to their festival a couple of times (usually 2nd week in May?) and also been to a mate's Stag Do which was early July, I think.  Plenty of pubs in town, old and new (some hidden away on 1st floors, above shops).  Also a few clubs and lapdancing place from what I can briefly recall!

And then on that Saturday night you can go to Shelbourne Park for the Irish Greyhound Derby semi finals

Cheers gents - some useful input

Liam, hadn't even thought of Galway!  Do you know whether you get many stag dos there?  I assume there is plenty of nightlife?

never been to the racing in galway but its a cracking place for a weekend.

Morning Iron Cat, I can thoroughly recommend Galway as the perfect venue for male excess !! Spent 3 nights there with Carvills this year and it was excellent. A great racetrack (constant shuttle buses laid on from the city centre and back(more like a large english town to be fair !), plenty of places to eat catering for all budgets and the nightlife is to die for.There is this one pedestrianised street that must be at least half a mile long going down to the bay that is rammed with bars,music ,street entertainers and people having the craic ! It's far less formal than Goodwood, just a pity the two clash really.