Fairyhouse Racecourse, County Meath


FAIRYHOUSE RACECOURSE, Co. Meath
(Gaelic: Tigh na Siog. Meaning: The House of the Fairies)

Fairyhouse Revealed
Fairyhouse is the venue for many of the biggest races of the Irish Jump season, with the crowning glory coming on Easter Monday when the holiday celebrations reach fever pitch for the running of the Irish Grand National, first run in 1870. This is without doubt one of the biggest days in the Irish racing calendar and is the main course on a 3 day Easter menu of appetising racing which begins on Sunday and ends on Tuesday. The big race itself is complemented by numerous other top-class races including the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup on the Sunday.

The Grand National is the most valuable chase run in Ireland with a prize fund of €250,000. It is a thrilling rollercoaster event over 35/8 miles and 24 fences. It’s a true test of horse and rider and the combination that comes home in front after that journey deserves the big cheer it gets from the 20,000 plus crowd. All the participants are heroes and are rightly celebrated but the winning horse and jockey deserve to be lauded to a height, and they are. Not only is it one of the signature races in Irish Racing, it is one of the biggest events in Irish Sport. It is also a most exciting, enjoyable way to spend this holiday time. Above all it’s the people’s race.

Fairyhouse is not just all about the Grand National Meeting. There is more than one pearl in its oyster. In late November/early December the course hosts a weekend meeting that is one of the highlights of the Winter and the Sunday card features a trio of Grade 1 races that are as good as the game can get, and the list of past winners proves it. That's what Fairyhouse is all about.

Course Characteristics
The course itself is right-handed, relatively flat and is one mile and six furlongs in length.

For more details, see www.fairyhouseracecourse.ie