Irish Sports
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26 Jul 12
13:00
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10 Jan 07
I am English so of course my knowledge of Irish racing is limited. But I rather fancy spending 2 or 3 weeks in Ireland getting to 9 or 10 racecourses one spring/summer. Browsing one of the relevant websites I noticed the current Limerick racecourse is new having opened in 2001. I was under the impression that in the 60s there were two racecourses at Limerick,one called Limerick Junction. It is possible that it was one course and two different meetings. Does anybody know what happened to the one or two 60s racecourses ?
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Limerick Junction is now Tipperary
Mallow is now Cork |
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Phoenix Park is now a load of apartments!
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Ah. Thanks. I knew the Cork/Mallow tie-up but didn't know Limerick Junction had transformed into Tipperary.
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dingle derby 10/11/12 august
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What is now called Tipperary Racecourse is located in a small railway station village called Limerick Junction, which is just outside Tipperary Town.
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Stay away from gaff tracks like Sligo......Fairyhouse festival, Navan, Bellewstown and the world famous laytown beach races far more civilised.....plus Punchestown and the curragh not far away.
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Anywhere good to stay near Naas?
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Osprey Hotel among a few hotels in Naas.
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killashee house hotel
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Both lovely hotels.
Kilashee is a brief taxi ride from Naas and is more a hotel for a relaxing stay. There is a bit more life around the Osprey although it may well be too lively for some. Depends on your requirements and during the Punchestown festival they will all be busy. |
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Greenpark racecourse was located in the middle of Limerick city and sold for building in the 1990s,the owners controversially got the Racing Board to fund a new racecourse near Patrickswell on the Kerry side of Limerick,the upshot was the owners of the old Limerick racecourse got a windfall and a brand new racecourse.
Salmon Spray you have to go to the Curragh as it is to me one of the great racecourses of the world,the stand is dilapidated and shabby but its the course that makes it.For jump racing Thurles is a great place to go racing,you won`t get big crowds but you do get true racing enthusiasts and its a great viewing track as well as being known as Irelands first All Weather track because they never call it off. |
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Tbh my health has been poor for years but is a bit better at the moment.However I don't think I can cope with flying any more. Driving is OK but I am too absent-minded to risk driving on the right so Ireland looks a good idea. I have developed an aspiration to visit all 26 Irish racecourses. Doubt I can do that as even with 2 cleverly timed 3 week breaks I am always going to miss 3 or 4 courses. But I might do that in the next few years. I am already looking at the 2013 fixture list which is out unlike GB.
Incidentally apart from Mallow and Limerick Junction which I now know have been renamed the other racecourses in Ireland I remember from formbooks when I was young are Phoenix Park,Tuam,Mullingar and Baldoyle. I must admit I thought Tralee was still open until a couple of days cos it's on an internet map of courses,but its omission from the fixture list led me to dig deeper  |
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saddest thing ever in irish racing was tralee closing.disgraceful treatment for a place that used to draw big crowds 80s /90s..it was let go into disrepair with no investment and just faded away.
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agree with kavvie for once.....my local track when i was a boy......spent many great days up there.....was there when dawn run won with Charmain Hill aboard.....some great horses ran there.....
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were you a resident in the halting site at the far end of the track bobby?i often passed your caravan so!!small world
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There are no long journeys in Ireland anymore ,it's the one good spin off of the mad years,the roads are brilliant motorways everywhere,I love Leopardstown and what used to be a nightmare journey now takes less than a hour and a half.
The closure of Tralee was down to the lack of interest of the owners who deliberately ran the track down so they could sell it,there was a coursing club associated with the racecourse,do they still use the same ground there. |
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Some of the distances are a bit longer than I thought wildman. Not sure I would fancy driving from Downpatrick to Killarney then on to an evening meeting.
But 20 years ago I probably wouldn't have blinked at it ( assuming the roads were like they are today ). |
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If you base yourself in the midlands,Roscrea,Monasterevan or even Kildare Town you are not far from any racecourse with the added bonus that you could meet up with other race goers and get a lift,although the way crowds have dropped that will be harder now.
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Laytown is a once a year meeting. This year it is on September 13th.
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Yes Laytown is a problem. But as I am really a jumps enthusiast I might give that a miss.
Hadn't thought of basing myself in one place tbh. Could be an idea but I think I want to see some different towns/bars. |
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A well known Irish trainer said to me that the two best festivals to go to in Ireland were Listowel & as never give up says Dingle.
I can vouch for Dingle,I love the place but unfortunately I've yet to get to Listowel though I've been through the place often enough. Another must if you're into horses is the goat fair.What an atmosphere there when that's on. |