Horse Racing
Irish Racing has a personality and atmosphere not found anywhere else in the world. This is especially true at the racing festivals which are the highlights of the racing season from Easter through to December. Ireland is noted for its horses and Wexford and indeed Kilmuckridge is proud to belong to the tradition of breeding good horses. “Marengo” - Napoleon’s horse was bred in Kilmuckridge and a little closer to today Brave Inca who won the Sun Alliance Cup in Cheltenham in 2005 was trained by Colm Murphy in Killenagh just outside Kilmuckridge.
Wexford Holiday Homes is close to Wexford Race Course and within an easy drive of several others:
Wexford Races
We are just 20 minutes from Wexford Race Course which holds several meetings per year. Several of these meeting during the summer are in the evening and are an ideal and family friendly end to a summers day. A great day out.!!
The Calendar for 2010 Meetings in Wexford Race Course are as follows: March 17th Wednesday afternoon, May 7th Friday evening, May 21st Friday evening, June 11th Friday evening, July 2nd Friday evening, July 23rd Friday evening, August 6th Friday evening, August 27th Friday evening, October 23rd Saturday afternoon, October 24th Sunday afternoon, November 27th Saturday afternoon
Gowran Park
Gowran Park is about 50 mins drive from Morriscastle through both and the lush countryside and the spartan beauty of the Blackstairs mountains which separate Wexford and Kilkenny. Gowran Park’s new restaurant overlooks the course and has terrific views of the surrounding countryside.
Leopardstown Race Course is just after the South entry to the M50 form the M11. The entrance to the Race course is signed posted and parking is easy. The Calendar for upcoming 2010 Meetings is as follows: 07 Feb 2010, Sun 28 Feb, Sun 28 Mar, Sun 18 Apr, Sun 09 May, Sun 30 May 2010, Thu 10 Jun 2010
Punchestown and the Curragh
Punchestown and the Curragh are also exciting racing events and are within a days trip and well worthwhile especially to the Festival events.
See the website at www.hri.ie for Festival dates.
The calendar at Punchestown for the forthcoming 2010 season includes meetings on: 31 Jan 2010, Wed 17 Feb 2010, Tue 20 Apr 2010, Wed 21 Apr 2010, Thu 22 Apr 2010, Fri 23 Apr 2010, Sat 24 Apr 2010
Point to Point
Point to Point Races are a great day out. They are reputed to have begun as a match in 1752 between Cornelius O'Callaghan and Edmund Blake being the first recorded steeplechase run in Ireland. The steeple of St.John's Church in Buttevant was the starting point, and some 4 miles later over a course of natural obstacles the finish was St. Mary's Church in Doneraile. They still retain a little of the madness of their origins!
Several point to points take place around Morriscastle and the following dates are all easy trips:
Sun 19 Feb. Bray (H) Fairwood, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow RH
Sun 12 Mar. Killinick (H) Lingstown, Tomhaggard, Co. Wexford RH
Sun 2 April. Island Hunt (F) Cullentra, Gorey Co. Wexford LH
Sun 23 April. Bree (F) Wexford Racecourse, Bettyville, Co. Wexford RH
Sun 14 May. Island Hunt (F) Cullentra, Gorey, Co. Wexford LH
