History of horse racing in Ireland

There are few countries in the world with as long and storied a connection with horse racing as Ireland. Although we might more readily associate Irish horse racing with notable wins on the world racing circuit in recent decades, the roots of this sport in Ireland go back much further in time.

Horse racing has been deeply engrained in Irish history and culture, with records dating back as far as 60 AD, which reveal the deep links of the sport of horse racing to early Irish society. The ancient Celtic text ‘Togail Bruidne Dá Derga’, mentions chariot races taking place on the Curragh during the reign of the early Irish king Conaire Mór. Later records from the 7th century note the use of the Curragh as a location for horse racing, with the Book of Leinster mentioning great chariot races being held there.

Beyond the early Celtic era, horse racing continued to establish itself as an integral part of Irish culture and society. Over time, wild horses captured from the Irish highlands were trained and domesticated, with these early breeds going on to become one of the fastest and strongest in Europe. As the popularity of these native breeds increased, Ireland became recognised as a true horse nation with a sporting element building up over time. For this reason, horse racing became deeply rooted in Irish culture, with horses themselves becoming very valuable assets and a symbol of status for wealthier families.

In the reign of King Charles II in the seventeenth century, horse racing established itself as one of the most popular sports in the country. With the introduction of the King’s Plate Races, which involved a four-mile race with a weight load of 12 stone, breeding became more selective. The Curragh became particularly prominent as a centre for horse breeding, with breeders there producing fast yet strong horses.

In fact, horse racing was so popular that race meetings were prominently advertised in the papers of the day despite the introduction of oppressive penal laws which restricted the right of Catholics to own horses of a certain value. By 1750, the ‘English Racing Calendar’ advertised around 71 events in a single year. These races continued to grow in popularity, and it was in this period that we see some of the most famous events in the Irish horse racing calendar being established, such as the Punchestown races.

Ireland has continued to be a prominent player on the global horse racing scene ever since. The ways to enjoy the events themselves remain largely unchanged, however certain processes have taken on new forms. Late 20th and 21st century technology modified certain aspects of the experience. Punters can now access detailed information on horses and odds digitally, use online payment methods to place bets. Those caring for the horses can monitor the health and pinpoint injuries with the use of MRIs and imaging X-rays, or even fitting horses with 3D printed titanium made shoes

The popularity of the sport has continued right up to today, where Irish trained and bred thoroughbreds regularly win major races Internationally. Recent Irish trained winners of the iconic Aintree Grand National (Tiger Roll 2018 and 2019), Cheltenham Gold Cup (Al Boum Photos 2019) and the Melbourne Cup (Rekindling 2017) continue to give great pride to the Irish nation. With a history as long and storied as Ireland’s, it begins to make sense how this small island has garnered such a name for itself in the world of the horse.