# Leopardstown Racecourse

Leopardstown Racecourse 53°15′57″N 6°11′21″W﻿ / ﻿53.26583°N 6.18917°W﻿ / 53.26583; -6.18917 is a horse-racing course in Leopardstown, approximately 8 kilometres (5 mi) 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.
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/Sex |
| January | Saturday | Killiney Novice Chase | Chase | Grade 3 | 2m 3f | 5yo + |
| January | Saturday | Ladbrokes Hurdle | Hurdle | Handicap | 2m | 4yo + |
| January | Sunday | Irish Champion Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m | 4yo + |
| January | Sunday | Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 2 | 2m 4f | 5yo + |
| January | Sunday | Arkle Novice Chase | Chase | Grade 1 | 2m 1f | 5yo + |
| February | Sunday | Irish Gold Cup | Chase | Grade 1 | 3m | 5yo + |
| February | Sunday | Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase | Chase | Grade 1 | 2m 5f | 5yo + |
| February | Sunday | Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m 2f | 5yo + |
| February | Sunday | Spring Juvenile Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m | 4yo only |
| March | Sunday | Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes | Flat | Listed | 1m | 3yo only |
| March | Sunday | Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 3yo only |
| April | Wednesday | Heritage Stakes | Flat | Listed | 1m | 4yo + |
| May | Sunday | Amethyst Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m | 3yo + |
| May | Sunday | Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 2f | 3yo only |
| May | Sunday | Cornelscourt Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m | 3yo only f |
| June | Friday | Saval Beg Stakes | Flat | Listed | 1m 6f | 4yo + |
| June | Thursday | Ballycorus Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 3yo + |
| June | Thursday | Ballyogan Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 6f | 3yo + f |
| July | Thursday | Silver Flash Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 2yo only f |
| July | Thursday | Meld Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 1f | 3yo + |
| July | Thursday | Tyros Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 2yo only |
| August | Thursday | Ballyroan Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 4f | 3yo + |
| August | Thursday | Desmond Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m | 3yo + |
| September | Saturday | Irish Champion Stakes | Flat | Group 1 | 1m 2f | 3yo + |
| September | Saturday | Golden Fleece Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m | 2yo only |
| September | Saturday | Matron Stakes | Flat | Group 1 | 1m | 3yo + f |
| September | Saturday | Kilternan Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 1m 2f | 3yo + |
| October | Saturday | Killavullan Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 2yo only |
| November | Sunday | Eyrefield Stakes | Flat | Listed | 1m 1f | 2yo only |
| December | St. Stephen's Day | Fort Leney Novice Chase | Chase | Grade 1 | 3m | 4yo + |
| December | St. Stephen's Day | O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 2 | 2m | 3yo only |
| December | 27th | Paddy's Reward Club Chase | Chase | Grade 1 | 2m 1f | 5yo + |
| December | 27th | Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m | 4yo + |
| December | 28th | Christmas Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 1 | 3m | 4yo + |
| December | 28th | Savills Chase | Chase | Grade 1 | 3m | 5yo + |
| December | 29th | December Festival Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 1 | 2m | 4yo + |
| December | 29th | Leopardstown E.B.F. Mares Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 3 | 2m 4f | 4yo + m |
The Irish Champion stakes is the most important race at the course and one of the World Series of Racing. It is held every September and attracts the cream of racing thoroughbreds.

## 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.