Fairyhouse Racecourse is rated as one of Ireland's foremost horse sporting venues. The universally well-known horse racing amenity is located in the famous parish of Ratoath in County Meath. It is the proud home of the widely attended Irish Grand National.
The inaugural race meeting was convened in 1848. In mid-1870, the very first Irish Grand National steeplechase event was staged at Fairyhouse Racecourse.
The Fairyhouse racetrack itself is just over one-mile-and-six-furlong, right-handed circuit, with a two-and-half furlong straight and a fairly short ascending finish. Admittance to Fairyhouse race occasions is free to under-16s and there are also other promotions for senior citizens and regular festivals (i.e. Winter Festival, Easter Festival etc.).
Fairyhouse hosts both Irish Grand National & Irish Gold Cup. It has always been a top quality facility that attracts international sporting stars. Historically, the highly acclaimed Desert Orchid, Prince Regent & Persian War all proved victorious. These champions are remembered by race fans at Fairyhouse.
Fairyhouse is presently owned by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and was run by Doneraile man Dick Sheil, a renowned alumnus of Warrenstown Agricultural College and UCD from 1999 up to October 2006, one year after ownership changed hands from Fairyhouse Club LTD due to financial challenges. HRI saw Dick Sheil as a wonderful asset to the racecourse having successfully brokered substantial sponsorship and ably managing many fundamental race meetings. The racing site was superintended by a caretaker overseer for nearly a year and on October 1, 2007, the post was occupied by a thoroughly experienced chartered accountant called Caroline Gray, who had satisfactorily worked for the HRI finance section for five years before and was laudably described as an "innovator" by HRI.
The Powers Whiskey funding deal is backed up by the Irish branch of Pernod Ricard, an enduring sponsorship that has existed since 1960 and the longest funding in the entire history of Irish racing. Fairyhouse management firmly credits this continual sponsorship for making the Irish Grand National what it is currently but the term ended in April 2010.
Again, Fairyhouse Racecourse is a top destination for sports tourists from various parts of the world. Due to its numerous catering and hospitality packages, it is also a popular centre for hundreds of social and corporate gatherings that take place there throughout the year.
Visit Fairyhouse Website Here
Contact details: Fairyhouse Racecourse, Ratoath, Co. Meath
Tel: +353 1 825 6167
YouTube