About Listowel Racecourse

Listowel Racecourse is a racecourse which is located in the town of Listowel; County Kerry, Ireland. This is in the Southwest of Ireland and is the most Westernly racecourse to be found in Ireland. Listowel Racecourse features both national hunt as well as flat racing throughout the calendar year. The course first opened its doors back in 1858 and in 2008 there was a 150th Anniversary celebration to honour the event.

As for the track itself, Listowel Racecourse features a rectangular shaped track which measures at just over one mile in distance. The course is largely flat and run left handed however there is a small uphill sprint to complete the circuit. Listowel Racecourse is one of the smallest racecourses in Ireland however its also a fantastic destination for trainers to take their younger horses.

Notable races

The biggest races which take place every year at Listowel Racecourse happen during Listowel major race festival; the Harvest festival. This takes place every year in September and is a seven day festival which features both flat and national hunt racing. This is one of the most widely attended festivals during the season; second in attendance only to the Galway Races. It’s also the final festival of the summer season.

The most popular race during the Harvest Festival is the Guinness Kerry National. This is always ran during the Wednesday of the festival over a distance of three miles. Many of the previous winners have gone on to much greater feats in their career such as previous winner Monty’s Pass; which went on to win the Aintree Grand National!

Overall it’s fair to say that Listowel Racecourse is one of the most important venues on the Irish circuit. It’s a great venue for horses to gain experience. It’s festival is one of the most widely attended in Ireland. Plus it’s the final destination for those looking to finish out the summer season with a bang!