Leopardstown

Quick Facts About Leopardstown

It was built in 1888 by Captain George Quin. It was purchased by the Racing Board (since evolved into Horse Racing Ireland) in 1967 in order to secure its future for racing.

The Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial run at Leopardstown in May was won by the subsequent English Derby winner three years in a row; Sinndar (2000), Galileo (2001) and High Chapparal (2002). The 2003 winner Alamshar was third in the English Derby but then won the Irish Derby.

Leopardstown Revealed

Leopardstown hosts some of the biggest races in the calendar, both jump racing in Winter and flat racing for the rest of the year. These experiences range from the Christmas festival, to fun-filled Bulmers evening meetings in Summer with live music afterwards, to the Autumn season when the highlight is the Tattersalls Irish Champion Stakes.

Augmenting this great racing, the facilities ensure that every need of the racegoer is amply catered for in terms of sustenance and entertainment. Any time of the year is a good time to come to Leopardstown.

Christmas Glories And The Super 7

The Super 7 series of meetings starts with the 4 days of the Christmas meeting, continues into January with the Pierse Hurdle Day and AIG Europe Champion Hurdle Day and finishes in early February with the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, the jewel in Ireland's steeplechasing crown. It is a trail of events that offers wide-eyed thrill after thrill.

Ladies

The Irish Champion Stakes Day on the 3rd September 2011 is the highlight of the summer/ autumn social and sporting calendaer and features one of the most exciting Best Dressed Lady competions. This day offers the perfect opportuity for a fun and exciting day out with friends and family.

New to the racecard is the Bulmers Live at Leopardstown ‘Fashion Rocks’ competition. This series of events runs through the months of June and July. At each event, the Style Bitches, ‘Ireland’s top stylists’ will award a ‘Fashion Rocks’ award and a €1,000 shopping package at House of Fraser to one lucky man or woman, based on their contemporary, cool, after work style. Each of the seven winner will be invited back on the final night where the overall racegoer to rock fashion champion will then be crowned by TV Presenter, Lottie Ryan, on August 11th, and presented with a trip to the fashion capital of Europe (Paris) and a trip to the famous French racecourse, Longchamps. 

The Champion Stakes

The Irish Champion Stakes, is the highlight of Leopardstown's flat racing season and every year attracts the best of flat horses from Ireland, Britain and the continent for the €1 Million prize. 

Three past winners of the race have been crowned world champion: Daylami (1999), Fantastic Light (2001) and High Chaparral (2003). Its timing in early September is perfect for horses who have contested the big races during the Summer and who have had a break before their Autumn campaigns. Its intermediate distance of 1¼ miles accommodates horses coming back from 1½ miles and those going up from 1 mile. It also provides one of the most meaningful comparisons of different generations of horses with the classic three-year-olds taking on the tough, battle-hardened older veterans. This year's renewal looks to be no exception with a champion stakes showdown between the Irish Derby Winner Fame and Glory and English Derby Winner Sea The Stars. 

Course Characteristics

The course is a left-handed oval of one mile and six furlongs with an uphill finishing straight.

How To Get There

By Road:
Take Exit 15 off the M50 travelling both North and South Bound.
Coming from Dublin city: Take the N11 southbound, following signs for Wexford. Turn right at the Whites Cross junction onto the R113 (Leopardstown Road). The racecourse entrance is about 1 km along this road.
From Wexford/Wicklow: Follow N11 northbound and turn left at Whites Cross Junction.
From the North of Dublin: follow the M50
From Naas/Kildare:
Join M50 at the Red Cow roundabout and follow the above route.

By Rail:
The nearest DART (Dublin City Rail System) station is Blackrock, a short taxi journey from the racecourse.

By Light Rail:
The Luas (Dublin Tram System) terminus at Sandyford is just a short walk away.

By Bus:
A racing bus departs from Busaras (Store Street) 1 hour and 15 minutes before the first race and returns 30 minutes after the last race.

Admission

Open Access	€15/16
Top-Level Seats	€30/€40
OAPs & Students:	€10 - €15

Discounts of 10% or 20% are available for pre-booked groups of 20 people or more. Click here to purchase tickets.  

Corporate Facilities

The Private Suites are located on the top level of the Reserved Stand. A single suite can accommodate 12 for silver service meal or 24 for a buffet. Double suites can also be arranged. The Levmoss and Centenary Rooms can cater for 120 and 90 people respectively and combined up to 220. Facilities include CCTV, private bar, private balcony and accessible Tote betting.

The magnificent Pavilion is a glass-fronted building with its own balcony overlooking the straight and can cater for groups of 200-1000. CCTV and private Tote betting facilities are provided. 

Other Facilities

A free creche facility is provided on racedays catering for children aged 2 to 10, opening an hour before the first race and closing after the last race.

A permanent AIB Bank ATM machine on site.

Leopardstown boasts its own Golf Centre, an 18 hole 'pay as you play' course in the centre of the track also incorporating a 48-bay floodlit driving range. To help with your game there is a McGuirks Golf Shop.

West Wood Health and Fitness Centre, with a special children’s area-Fit Zone.
Leopardstown's Club 92 is a popular nightclub which opens from Thursday to Sunday from 11 PM.

Fillies Café Bar- An award winning bar and restuarant, open daily. 

Après Racing

There are more interesting places to see and things to do in Dublin than you can shake a stick at and it would be a futile exercise to try to list them all but here are some: Art Galleries, Museums, Theatres, Shopping, Dublin Zoo in Phoenix Park, beautiful beaches nearby and lots more.   

Local Hotels
Fitzpatricks Castle Hotel, Killiney	01 284 0700
Stillorgan Park Hotel, Stillorgan	01 288 1621
Radisson Blu St Helens Hotel, Blackrock	01 218 6000
Beacon, Sandyford	01 291 5000
The Merrion Hotel	01 603 0600
Jurys Doyle Hotel Group (chain of hotels, many close to Leopardstown)	01 607 0000
Bewleys, Leopardstown	01 293 5000

 

Local Restaurants
Leopardstown Inn, Leopardstown
Beaufield Mews, Stillorgan
The Goat Grill, Goatstown
La Casa, Stepaside
Coopers, Kilternan
My Thai, Beacon Hotel

 

Local Bars
Stillorgan Orchard
Leopardstown Inn
Crystal Bar, Beacon Hotel