How to Plan a Day’s Horse Racing at Ireland’s Curragh

It’s been the centre of horse racing in Ireland since the 18th century, and the Curragh Racecourse is still one of the country’s top sporting venues. From March to October every year, the Curragh hosts all the major Irish races and is located just under an hour’s drive outside the capital of Dublin.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Check the race timetable on the Curragh website (see Resources below), where you can also book your tickets for races online. Tickets for race day are only available up until the Wednesday before the race from the website (although you can usually book them by directly calling the course if you’ve left it later than that).
2. Reach the Curragh easily by road or rail. If you’re driving, you need to take Exit 9 off the M50 onto the N7 southbound, or Exit 12 off the M7 from Dublin. Special bus services also operate on race days from Busaras to the racecourse and back again--with the last bus leaving 30 minutes after the races have finished. Mainline trains also stop at the Curragh on race days from Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway.
3. Become a member of the Curragh for about 190 euros (approximately £125) per adult per year. Benefits for members include admission to all races for the year, use of a members’ only area in the Main Grandstand, access to the Members’ Lounge, a reserved members’ only car park and free admission to many of the Newmarket race meetings.
4. Make sure you wear appropriate clothing to the racecourse. Although there’s not technically a dress code as such, it’s expected you and all the members of your party (including children) will be dressed in at least smart casual wear.
5. Take your kids with you to the races, as the Curragh prides itself on being a particularly family friendly venue. All kids under 15 are admitted to the track free if accompanied by adults; there are fully supervised crèche facilities, a children’s playground and a picnic area. The racecourse even holds family days on the same dates as major races, where children can enjoy bouncy castles, face painting go carts and karaoke.
6. Place your bets at the Ladbrokes Betting Shop in the Curragh’s Betting Hall. There’s also a Curragh Gift Shop, Spar Newsagents, Fine Art store and Mad Hatters hat shop within the complex.
7. Don’t worry about bringing your own food for the day and instead enjoy lunch and drinks at one of the buzzing bars and restaurants at the Curragh. Some of the best include The Bollinger Champagne Bar and The Horseshoe Restaurant.
8. Pull out all the stops to enter the Curragh’s "Fashions on the Turf" competition. Celebrity judges will choose the best dressed lady on all five of the Curragh’s ladies days and crown them as the Curragh’s Style Icon, with prizes ranging from short breaks and holidays to cars!

Tips & Warnings

• Plenty of free parking is provided at the Curragh, but if you’re a regular customer, you can reserve a preferred parking space for the year for about 100 euros
• There are ample numbers of hotels around the racecourse, including a couple that are just across the road. Get in touch with a local tourist information service (see Resources below) to find one that’s suitable for your budget and requirements.
• Disabled access is available at the Curragh for those in wheelchairs. There is a disabled toilet located beside the Champagne Bar, a dedicated disabled viewing stand close to the parade ring and lift access to the bars and restaurants upstairs.