Top 5 Worst Racecourses in Ireland

killarney one of the best

bellewstown a shocking omission

It's difficult to split a group of turds as they all have revolting properties...we only have a handful of acceptable tracks.

Downpatrick sneaked in by mistake (NAP)

Thurles and Clonmel haven't changed much since the 80's but do get some decent racing compared to some in that list.
Are we talking about facilities or facilities and track?

Sligo... mother of H Christ how is that omitted

kilbeggan also a shocking omission

Tramore, kilbeggan,  downpatrick are dreadful. Sligo, wexford and bellewstown adequate. Killarney a good track imo

limerick a **** hole,and badly run

track only, yes there are quite a number of other bad tracks but as the topic say 'Top 5', thats my opinion, i've noticed no one has listed 5 in order.

BELLEWSTOWN ADEQUATE WHAT A JOKER.FOR 51 WEEKS OF THE YEAR ITS INHABITED BY 4 THOUSAND RABBITS AND 2 THOUSAND SHEEP!!!

Sligo is not nearly as bad as what it was with their new drainage - look at the entries/runners last Sunday.

clonmel

Galway

IMO the worst racecourse by far is the Curragh.............for making money that is!!

observerirl     07 May 10 21:01 
IMO the worst racecourse by far is the Curragh.............for making money that is!!

FFS I couldn't agree more. Close it down!

sinn, you might agree with me here but five best in no particular order are,
Wexford, Ballinrobe, Thurles, Cork, Bellewstown followed closely by Killarney and Roscommon........for making money of course. Jeez if I wanted comfort I'd stay in my sitting room.

kilbeggan ,worst track for horse's going wrong and breaking down walked it last year between holes and ruts/dips its designed for breaking down horse's.....

Killarney and Ballinrobe are 2 of my favourite tracks , cant see why they would be in anybodys "worst " list .  Apart from the track , which is a bit tight on bends , Killarney is one of the most beautifully situated courses in the world .

Ballinrobe is well run , fairly scenic , and friendly staff .And if you pick your races , you can win money there ( not the 16 runner handicaps , which at any track are just a lottery ) .

Worst racecourse ive been to is Down Royal . You simply can see nothing but the last two furlongs .

Killarney in a way is bit of a specialist track, u need a horse with a bit course form to win there. On warm summers evening in Killarney its the closest thing to heaven. The facilities are pretty good and the entertainment is always good afterwards.

Killarney is utterly dire

will be this week €20 admission at the gate.Do they think people are mad.

I spent a miserable day at Sligo once.  Down to my last few coins I backed a nag to place and it won. 
I can't remember much about the course except that it resembled a paper-clip.  I'm not going back to check.

Ballinrobe ?

On a nice Summers day, there isn't a better place to be.
Looking across to the back straight with the mountains in the background and a racecard keeping the sun out of your eyes.

Great stuff.

e15 admin for Killarney

e15 admin for Killarney

Punchestown is the most overrated grade 1 track in the country.

Punchestown is the most overrated grade 1 track in the country

--------------------------

Oh no it's not

punchestown best irish track ive been to

there is a  lot of siht racing at dundalk,the track and facilities are good but they are struggling to get crowds.Even on saturday most pubs got 40 free tickets each and the crowd was still poor.

Gowran Park doesn't seem fair. Not easy come from off the pace. And not so easy either to anticipate what will be in front-rank when they all start to keep going at one pace from before the straight. I guess in-running is the way to go but are there any layers? It's a pity really because the racing there isn't of a bad quality horse-wise. Is it watering is doing this?

Curragh. Soul-less kip!

Punchestown is the most over rated grade 1 racecourse in the British isles,they are almost constantly turning and the run in on the chase track is completely inadequate,more than likely if one jumps the last in front,then success is invariably guaranteed.Its undulating in the extreme and the hurdle track unbelievably has a downhill finish.Catering at this racecourse is ordinary to put it mildly,the atmosphere was almost non existant at this years festival,and for quite a few years in fact.Propably a course that is best suited by ease in the ground which reduces the chance of your horse being hampered on the run around the last bend.All in all its a decent enough track and thats all,there are 10 courses in England that would lose it when it comes to both the actual track and of course facilities.Leopardstown,Naas and Navan are much fairer tests as well

Jim - hard to have a bet when racing on the inside track, but on the main chase/hurdle track, results are fair on whole,no?

6-4
I wouldnt have a problem with having a bet at it on any of their tracks to be honest,its just that i think its vastly over rated.Facilities wise it wouldnt bother me too much either,although it would be nice to have an option of eating something at a race meeting,i actually think that the inside track as it used invariably when the ground is bad,offers less chance of a hard luck story,as more often than not the horses get strung out and there is an elongated run in as well.Not for a moment am i saying that its one of the worst five racecourses in Ireland,in fact it could be one of the top five,but if it is,its by the skin of its teeth.

NAVAN IS THE BEST .NAP!!!!

Clonmel is a lovely track but investment in facilities is poor which is a pity as it could be a decent dual track. The Curragh is a 5hithole which is also an absolute pain in the ring to get to.

Surely one of the best tracks to get to by public transport...

Not yet been to them all but was disappointed with limerick and cork ,love thurles and fairyhouse,navan is very good in every way.,the racing at Leopardstown makes it special.

The national hunt at Leopardstown I mean

We should be praising and supporting our racecourses rather then criticising them. If we have to criticise our racecourses then we should do it constructively. I mean given the chance I’d love to close down Down Royal, if I won the Euromillions I’d build a housing estate for Irish people, that’s just personal mind...on it rather then race there, however as Irish people we must all focus on positives with everything rather be critical even though yes it is hard to do so

Since my October 1st post I have spent two days at Gowan absolutely loved everything about the place.

Spent a very pleasant New Year's day at Tramore, my first visit. The view of the track is not great but I knew and expected that but the facilities were first class, the people very friendly  and the racing as good as you'd find anywhere, better than Fairyhouse on the day. I would have no issues with returning.

i will be paying my first visit to tramore in august nice to get a good report about the place nogoody.

Apparently you can see it well from the cliffs of Dooneen.

Bring a Pound with you and we'll have a drink Foxy, just don't be expecting Chantilly or Baden Baden , handsome is as handsome does and I'm sure you'll feel welcome.

If it’s more like thurles than chantilly then I will be happy nogoody my experience of Ireland suggests a pound won’t get much of a drink.

It's the thought that counts Foxy, anyway if you catch me on a good day you won't need money.