LIMERICK RACECOURSE
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Introduction:
Limerick is the most recently constructed turf racecourse in Ireland. Opened in October 2001, the inaugural meeting attracted a massive crowd of over eighteen thousand race goers. The two hundred and fifty acre racecourse site was built on a stud farm to the south of Limerick City, and with its artificial lake in the centre of the course, it combines modern facilities with most pleasant surroundings.
Although Green Mount Park is the first custom built turf racecourse in Ireland for around fifty years, it has only updated a long tradition of horse racing in the Limerick area, for in the two hundred and nineteen years following the establishment of the first Limerick racecourse in 1790, seven different local venues have been used to stage various forms of horse racing, but the last venue at Green Park, which closed in 1999, will take some beating in terms of longevity as a horseracing venue, for it successfully staged race meetings for one hundred and thirty years.
(For the history buffs amongst you, the venues used over the years to stage horseracing in the Limerick area include: Bruff, Rathkeale, Newcastle, Lemonfield, Ballinacurra, Green Park, and now Green Mount Park).
The current racecourse was designed to incorporate modern technology with traditional values. It was built to stage a growing number of high class fixtures, and in its first few years of operation it has already expanded its racing programme. In 2011, Limerick will stage 18 days of racing, with the highlights being - the Munster Grand National in October, and a high calibre four day meeting during the Christmas holidays.
Track facts:
Limerick stages both flat and national hunt racing.
The flat and national hunt courses are right handed concentric ovals measuring approximately one mile three furlongs in circumference. In the back straight, the track climbs twenty metres over a three furlong section. From near the end of the back straight, the track begins to descend, and this continues around the home turn and on the first part of the home straight. The various circuits then have a slight climb up to the winning post.
The total width of the racing area is around seventy metres, so for meetings with consecutive days of racing, fresh ground can be provided by moving the running rails. With good width and cambered bends, the various circuits can accommodate up to thirty runners in a single race.
The hurdles course has a total of six flights. Four of the hurdles are positioned in the back straight, with the remaining two being located prior to the winning post in the home straight.
The steeplechase course has seven fences laid out in the following circuit pattern: in the back straight, an initial plain fence, the first open ditch, two more plain fences, and the second open ditch, the circuit is completed by two plain fences located prior to the winning post in the home straight.
With the majority of hurdles and fences being situated on the back straight climb, Limerick is considered a stiff test, and in soft or heavy going, stamina is preferred to pace.
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Enclosures and hospitality:
The listings below do not include the facilities available to Annual Members, or owners and trainers.
Grandstand and Paddock Ticket.
The multi level Hugh Mc Mahon Grandstand was specifically built to provide spectators with superb views over the racecourse. Race goers can also visit the parade ring and unsaddling area.
The grandstand offers a variety of food and drink facilities. On the top floor, there are two corporate suites which can be booked separately, or combined to offer up to 450 corporate guests silver service dining plus their own bar and tote facilities.
For smaller parties, the modern surroundings of the Panoramic Restaurant enable patrons the opportunity to sample fine cuisine, great service, and from its second floor vantage point, great views over the racecourse. The restaurant has an accompanying bar and tote facility. To book a full day table, please skip to the contact details below.
For less formal eating and drinking, the Munster Suite contains a self service restaurant and the Imperial Call Bar.
The Cottage Rake and Hot Whisky Bars make up the facilities in the main grandstand.
In the Tote Hall, there are the food and drink facilities provided by the Tote Hall Bar, and the only Super Mac fast food outlet to be located on an Irish racecourse.
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Disabled facilities:
The racecourse car parks have designated car parking spaces for disabled drivers.
There is ramped access to the grandstand, and lift access to all floors.
Disabled toilet facilities are available on all floors of the grandstand.
Fixtures:
2010:
Wednesday 17 November (re-arranged fixture).
Sunday 26 December.
Monday 27 December.
Tuesday 28 December.
Wednesday 29 December.
2011:
Wednesday 26 January
Saturday 12 March
Sunday 13 March
Sunday 03 April
Tuesday 05 April
Monday 02 May
Sunday 22 May
Saturday 11 June
Friday 17 June
Sunday 03 July
Thursday 21 July
Sunday 09 October
Sunday 13 November
Monday 14 November
Monday 26 December
Tuesday 27 December
Wednesday 28 December
Thursday 29 December
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TRANSPORT LINKS:
By Road:
Limerick is situated 100 kilometres north of Cork, and 80 kilometres south of Galway.
Green Mount Park is 8 kilometres south of Limerick City, and access to the racecourse is from the Annacotta to Adare by pass, which then links on to the N20 and N21. These latter main routes provide road connections with Dublin, Limerick City, Cork, Killarney, and Shannon Airport.
The racecourse has two thousand free car parking spaces.
By Rail:
Limerick railway station has direct train connections with Dublin, Enniss, Waterford, and Rosslare.
By taking a connecting train service to Limerick Junction, passengers can gain access to trains to Cork and other destinations.
Limerick railway station is situated adjacent to the bus station, and on race days a shuttle bus service operates to the racecourse.
By Bus:
Limerick is the fourth largest city in Ireland. As such, Bus Eireann have a large bus station in Limerick, and provide bus connections to many major Irish towns and cities. For full details on bus times contact Limerick bus station
on: 061 313 333.
By Air:
Shannon international airport is around 19 kilometres from the racecourse. The airport has flights to Dublin, the four London airports, and the British regional airports at Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow Prestwick, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, and Nottingham East Midlands.
Bus Eireann operate a regular coach service from Shannon airport to Limerick City.
Subject to obtaining prior permission from the racecourse company, helicopters may land on the racecourse heli pad.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Address:
Limerick Racecourse,
Green Mount Park,
Patrickswell,
County Limerick.
Racecourse telephone details:
Eire tel no: 061 320 000.
From UK, tel no: 00353 61 32 00 00.
Racecourse fax details:
Eire fax no: 061 355 766.
From UK, fax no: 00353 61 35 57 66.
E-Mail: info@limerickraces.ie
ACCOMMODATION:
Charleville Park Hotel Charleville.
Eire tel no: 063 33700.
Tel no from UK: 00353 63 33700
The luxury 4 Star Charleville Park Hotel is located on the edge of the busy town of Charleville on the northern border of County Cork. Located on the N20 Cork to Limerick main road, the hotel is the perfect base for discerning race-goers. Cork Mallow and Limerick racecourses are both within a 20 minute drive. While race going guests who are seeking a totally relaxed break, can leave the car at home, as the hotel is only a five minute taxi ride from Charleville railway station, and there are direct rail connections to Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Mallow.
The Charleville Park Hotel is spacious, stylish and comfortable, and our staff are on hand to provide friendly service and advice at all times. On arrival, all guests can enjoy a complimentary welcome drink as their luggage is safely delivered to their room. The hotel’s 91 bedrooms and 5 executive suites provide style space and comfort, with sumptious furnishings and large bathroom facilities coming as standard. Every guest room offers; a 27 inch remote controlled LCD television, complimentary wi-fi internet access, and the other room amenities discerning guests expect from a superior hotel. The hotel’s luxuriously decorated suites provides spacious bedroom facilities with a separate dressing room, sitting room with separate dining area, and a large bathroom with a jaccuzzi bath.
In the hotel’s stylish and cosy Greenfinch Restaurant, guests can make their selection from two extensive menus, both offering the finest of modern Irish cuisine. Discerning diners can also compliment their meal with one of our hand picked fine wines. Guests preferring to dine in their room can choose from our 24 hour room service menu. Alternatively, Eds Bar offers a lunchtime carvery menu 7 days a week, and a traditional bar food menu between 3 p m and 9 p m each day.
Opening in the next few weeks, the Charleville Park Leisure Club will offer guests the use of a 25 metre swimming pool, Kiddies swimming pool, air conditioned fully equipped techno gymnasium, Ultra modern fitness studio, Spacious steam room and sauna, spa jet stations, and an eight seater jaccuzzi.
For further details on the Charleville Park Hotel, or to book directly, use the link below.
http://www.charlevilleparkhotel.com/
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