The first recorded racemeeting in the Tralee area was in 1767 and many different courses were used (at least 6) before racing moved permanently to its present location at Ballybeggan Park in 1898. The site, which was formerly a deerpark, was leased from its owners, the family of 19th century Irish patriot Daniel O'Connell.
The Rose of Tralee Festival was later created to complement the racing festival. Besides the fine ‘roses’ competing in Tralee down the years some very fine horses have competed there also. Dawn Run, one of the greatest hurdlers/steeplechasers of all time won her first race there in the early eighties.
The amazing Vintage Crop won the Carling Gold Cup there in 1992 and later went on to win the Melbourne Cup, the first horse from outside Australasia to win it.
The 1997 Irish Derby winner Desert King won his first race at Tralee in 1996.
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“The Pale moon was rising above the green mountains,
The sun was declining beneath the blue sea,
When I strayed with my love by the pure crystal fountain,
That stands in the beautiful Vale of Tralee.”
A verse of the love song that is part of the background to the internationally renowned Rose of Tralee Pageant held in conjunction with the 5-day racing festival in beautiful Tralee in August. The history of the racecourse is intertwined with that of the famous pageant, which is contested by girls from Ireland and around the world and which attracts an estimated 100,000 people to the area.
As you can imagine the atmosphere in the town is pretty boisterous as celebrities and merrymakers alike come from all over the world for the event of which the racing is an integral part. That party feeling inevitably spills over to the racecourse for 5 days of exciting flat and jump racing that provides the highlight of the season at Tralee.
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The course itself is left-handed and almost 1 mile and two furlongs in length with a slightly uphill finishing straight.
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By Road: 100km south-west of Limerick, 130km north-west of Cork.
By Rail: Tralee railway station is just 2 km from the course.
By Air: Kerry airport is 29km away and Shannon airport is 108 km away. Regular flights from Dublin, London and Manchester to Kerry airport. Helicopter landing at the racecourse can be arranged in advance.
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| Adult: |
€18 |
| OAPs & Students: |
€12 |
| Children U14: |
Free |
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Dining room, several snack and fast food outlets plus a number of bars.
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A hospitality suite is available to cater for 60-120 people. Marquee erected for the festival meeting.
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A special disabled viewing area in the stand.
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Local Hotels
Brandon Hotel, Tralee , Tel: 066 712 3333
Grand Hotel, Tralee, Tel: 066 712 1499
Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee, Tel: 066 718 0444
Ballygarry Hotel, Tralee, Tel 066 712 3322
Imperial Hotel, Tralee, Tel: 066 7127755
Local Restaurants
Oyster Tavern, Tralee
The Tankard, Fenit
Kirbys Brogue Inn, Tralee
Stokers Lodge, Tralee
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