“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good Racing the irish way Racing for the inside of a man” Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) A GUIDE TO racing in ireland TO A GUIDE racing the irish way A GUIDE TO racing in ireland Published by: Phone: +353 (0)45 455 455 Horse Racing Ireland, Fax: +353 (0)45 455 456 Ballymany, The Curragh, Email: [email protected] County Kildare Web: www.goracing.ie 26 IRISH RACECOURSE LocationS by REgIOn CORK Cork 53 MEATH Bellewstown 51 Fairyhouse 58 Navan 68 Laytown 63 GALWAY Galway 59 NORTH Down Royal 55 Downpatrick 56 KERRY Killarney 62 NORTH Ballinrobe 50 Listowel 66 WEST Roscommon 70 Sligo 71 KILBEGGAN Kilbeggan 61 NORTH Dundalk 57 EAST - National Hunt & Flat KILDARE The Curragh 54 SOUTH Gowran Park 60 - Flat Naas 67 EAST Tramore 74 Punchestown 69 Wexford 75 - National Hunt DUBLIN Leopardstown 64 TIPPERARY Clonmel 52 Thurles 72 Tipperary 73 LIMERICK Limerick 65 - National Hunt & Flat - Flat - National Hunt - National Hunt & Flat - Flat - National Hunt 1 - Entrance 5 - Food 9 - Weigh Room 12 -- Office/InfoEntrance Point 6 - Tote 5 - Food 10 - Pavillon Stand 9 - Weigh Room 23 -- GrandOffice/Info Stand Point7 - Race Cards6 - Tote 11 - To ilets 10 - Pavillon- National Stand Hunt & Flat 34 -- BarGrand Stand 8 - Parade7 Ring - Race Cards12 - Saddling Stalls 11 - Toilets 4 - Bar 8 - Parade Ring 12 - Saddling- Flat Stalls - National Hunt 1 - Entrance 5 - Food 9 - Weigh Room 2 - Office/Info Point 6 - Tote 10 - Pavillon Stand 3 - Grand Stand 7 - Race Cards 11 - Toilets 4 - Bar 8 - Parade Ring 12 - Saddling Stalls 1 - Entrance 5 - Food 9 - Weigh Room 2 - Office/Info Point 6 - Tote 10 - Pavillon Stand 3 - Grand Stand 7 - Race Cards 11 - Toilets 4 - Bar 8 - Parade Ring 12 - Saddling Stalls IntroductIon Horse Racing is many things: a has the added benefit of a It is difficult not to catch the bug Will it win one race? Will it get to sport, an industry, a hobby and a breathtaking setting. once you attend a race meeting. the track? social outlet. The thoroughbred The smells, the sights and has always been close to our You have the bustling, non-stop the sounds that are exclusive This is a more comprehensive hearts in Ireland and in every activity of the Galway festival, to this roadshow have a habit guide to racing in Ireland though, corner of the country the the more relaxed ambiance of of drawing people in. Once and apart from providing an evidence presents itself. It is a Naas or Down Royal, the that happens, they want to be insight into the horse’s journey why we are a powerhouse in once-a-year drama of educated about what is enfolding from the breeding barn to the terms of breeding and training beach-racing at Laytown, in front of them. Horse Racing racecourse, it also explains how equine and human champions. the scenery at Killarney, the Ireland has published quite a it started and developed and The best horses in the world absolute top-class action at bit of material in recent years how it is run. It takes you behind are Irish. So too are the premier Punchestown, The Curragh and to aid this process and Racing the scenes of a race day… those Trainers and Jockeys. Fairyhouse, the all-weather The Irish Way is the latest. fences didn’t just sprout up out at Dundalk and the absolute of the ground you know! With 26 racecourses in the guarantee that no matter how It is easy to forget that when a country, there is no shortage inclement the conditions, racing horse lines up at a starting tape What significance does the going of opportunity to experience will go ahead at Thurles. or stalls for a race, so much have? How do you read form? the thrills and spills of racing. time, work and preparation And when you’ve learned that, After all, that represents more The 1.24m people that attended involving many people has gone what are the betting options? In tracks per head of population meetings throughout Ireland into getting it there. From the short, this booklet is designed to than anywhere else in the in 2009 did so for a variety day of a foal’s birth and those give you a greater understanding world. The diversity of of reasons. Most are vastly first faltering, unsure steps, and deeper appreciation of what experience at these courses knowledgeable people with so much takes place to keep it happens in the background. is part of the uniqueness of a keen eye and expertise. healthy, educate it and have it racing in Ireland. Each one has Plenty more are first-timers, ready for the sales, even before Mostly though, it is here to its own quirks and landmarks, travelling with friends for some the actual training for racing enhance your racing experience… and with the renowned revelry – dinner, drink and begins. Everyone is living the beauty of the Irish landscape, entertainment… dream. Will this be a superstar? Horse Racing… Let yourself go! RACING the IRISH way 1 Kevin Manning with New Approach 2 RACING the IRISH way contents chapter 1 04 Origins of horse racing in Ireland chapter 2 08 The development of racing in Ireland chapter 3 16 Organisation of modern racing and industry bodies “there Is chapter 4 22 Thoroughbred ancestry no secret chapter 5 28 so close The Thoroughbred - Some interesting facts chapter 6 36 as that Foal to Final Furlong - Breaking, training and selling chapter 7 42 betWeen a Behind the scenes chapter 8 48 rIder and Racecourses, maps and descriptions hIs horse” chapter 9 76 How a race day is run - Ground maintenance and key personnel Robert Smith Surtees, chapter 10 82 Mr. Sponge’s Sporting Tour, 1853 Going Description - Why is it so important? chapter 11 88 Jockeys - How to ride a race chapter 12 96 How to read form chapter 13 102 Betting special thanks to the following people and companies for their assistance and contribution to racing – the Irish Way HRI Marketing Department, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, Tote, Turf Club, RACE, Swerve Design, Racing Post, Darragh O’Conchuir, Tyrone Molloy, Martin Murphy, Jason Morris, Tony Sweeney, Guy St John Williams, Pat Healy, Caroline Norris, Fennell Photography, David Casey, Declan McDonogh, Joe Collins, Richie Galway, Vincent Liffey. RACING the IRISH way 3 c h a p t e r 1 4 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 1 ORIGINS OF HorsE RACING IN IRELAND the first manuscript relating to actual horse races is a royal warrant from 1603 which entitled the governor of Derry to hold fairs and markets at which horse races could be held. RACING the IRISH way 5 he sport of racing one a poem from 1622 tells the tale club. In 1790 it published the horse against another of a young man (Owen O’hara) first volume of the Irish racing is probably as old as killed by a horse at the races at calendar. this document the art of riding horses’ carrickfergus, co antrim. a 1652 provided details of races run in t book by an english visitor tells of itself because people (especially Ireland (previously such details Irish people) have a strong and horse-matches taking place on were published in the english innate pride in their horses’ the strand at Youghal. racing calendar). prowess. an old saying goes that “one may get away with as the 17th century progressed, the Irish National hunt insulting a man’s wife or family place here. Match races (one racing became more organised Steeplechase committee was c but never his horse.” nobleman’s horse racing against and competitive in Ireland incorporated into the turf h In particular horse racing in another to determine which especially with the introduction club around 1866 to organise a p Ireland has a long and rich was faster in order to establish by King charles II (the Merrie National hunt (jump racing) t e history. Legends tell of mythical bragging rights) were common Monarch) of valuable King’s plate in the same way as Flat racing. r warriors like Fionn Maccumhaill occurrences in the 16th and 17th races. these plates were the Jump racing at punchestown racing their horses across the centuries. a famous match race equivalent of today’s Group 1 1 curragh plains while ancient took place at the curragh in 1634 races and were fiercely contested. the horses which won them were much sought after for breeding. “All men Are born free And equAl And eAch mAn is entitled to life, liberty And there is evidence that the royal plate races at the curragh horse rAcing…” had become well established australian poet andrew ‘Banjo’ patterson ‘features’ by the 1690s. manuscripts relate that chariot in which the earl of Ormond’s In the mid 18th century a races did take place on the horse beat Lord Digby’s horse. regulatory body for Irish racing curragh in the third century aD. was formed, at the rose and however, the first manuscript Bottle Inn on Dame Street in hard, documented evidence of relating to actual horse races is Dublin. Originally called the organised racing taking place a royal warrant from 1603 which Society of Sportsmen, it then in Ireland is another matter entitled the governor of Derry to became the Irish Jockey club and we do not actually know hold fairs and markets at which and around 1784 took the the date of the first race to take horse races could be held. permanent name, the turf 6 RACING the IRISH way racecourses), results of races financing of the sport and from strength to strength in from where were published racing thrived with building Ireland and is now a leisure in the racing calendar.