Cork/Mallow Racecourse History

The Cork/Mallow racecourse opened in 1924 after Cork Park had closed in 1917 and the management of the former Mallow racecourse, which held its first meeting on Monday 24th May 1773, decided a merger was in their best interests. The right-handed course of a mile and a half, with a straight 5 furlong sprint course which was extended to 7 furlongs in 2017, is located 22 miles north of Cork and 40 miles from Limerick. Its principal race is the Munster Oaks, a Group 3 race over 1 mile 4 furlong which was first run in 2003 at Naas when known as the Noblesse Stakes. It was retitled the Munster Oaks in 2014. Other principal races are the EBF Novice Hurdle grade 3 over 3 miles and the Hilly Way Chase, a grade 2 race over 2 miles. In the early 1920s some provincial courses believed they were not getting a good deal from the Irish Turf Club when fixtures were allocated, and that Dublin based courses were being favoured. The manager of Mallow racecourse at this troubled time was Mr F F MacCabe and he saw the attraction of combining with Cork, which had recently closed, promoting the new joint meeting, introducing the Mallow Cup for £500, which was worth more than most big races at that time, and even publishing a potential list of runners days before the actual races. The new course was launched in 1924 and held meetings in July, August and again in October of that first year. Although jointly run, the name Mallow races continued until a final meeting on 5th October 1994, after which the meeting became known as Cork/Mallow. The course has gone from strength to strength as a consequence of this initiative. Currently hosts 18 meetings annually, the majority of which are at the weekend.

 
Although Cork/Mallow remains a thriving racecourse, nearby Cork Park closed its gates for the final time in 1917.
Although racing took place in the vicinity of Cork well before 1869, the first occasion a meeting was staged on Cork Park was on Monday 17th May 1869. The Park extended over 70 acres, bounded by the Monahan and Centre roads, and the inaugural meeting was a festival event with a Ball in the evening. The card opened with the Lee Stakes which was won by Glenavon, owned by Captain Le Mesurier, followed by the Citizen’s Handicap Steeplechase which saw Captain Burke’s Nabocklish beat Standard Bearer and Esca. The highlight of the meeting was the Cork Grand Steeplechase which resulted in a fierce battle before The Kitten claimed it for owner Mr J D Whyte. Meetings continued for the next twenty years during a period of stability, although there was little expansion, but at the turn of the century five days racing a year was offered and prize money increased. This in turn increased the crowd size, but the management tried to be too ambitious too soon and further increased the number of race days to seven. In the end this backfired, and attendances began to decline leading to financial pressure. The final meeting took place on Monday 9th April 1917.
I am grateful to Google Maps (© Googlemap) for permission to use the map shown below.

The Munster Oaks, a Group 3 race over 1 mile 4 furlongs, was first run in 2003 when known as the Noblesse Stakes. It was retitled the Munster Oaks in 2014. A full list of winners is shown below:-
2003 The Noblesse Stakes at Naas, forerunner of the Munster Oaks, over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Snippets (15/8 fav) trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning, beating Juliette (9/2) trained by John Oxx and ridden by Fran Berry, with Elasouna (14/1) trained by John Oxx and ridden by J J Behan in third
2004 The Noblesse Stakes at Naas, forerunner of the Munster Oaks, over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Danelissima (8/1) trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning, beating Summitville (4/7 fav) trained by James Given and ridden by Micky Fenton, with Tarakala (5/1) trained by John Oxx and ridden by Fran Berry in third
2005 The forerunner of the Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Right Key (3/1 jt fav) trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by Declan McDonogh, beating Unique Pose (7/1) trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, with Saintly Rachel (8/1) trained by Charlie Swan and ridden by Johnny Murtagh in third
2006 The forerunner of the Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Sina Cova (16/1) trained by Peter Casey and ridden by Johnny Murtagh, beating Kushnarenkovo (7/1) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, with Allexina (9/2) trained by John Oxx and ridden by Fran Berry in third
2007 The forerunner of the Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Nick’s Nikita (7/1) trained by Michael Halford and ridden by Rory Cleary, beating Athenian Way (8/1) trained by John Oxx and ridden by Mick Kinane, with Wannabe Posh (9/2) trained by John Dunlop and ridden by Eddie Ahern in third
2008 The forerunner of the Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Ice Queen (14/1) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, beating Profound Beauty (5/1 co fav) trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, with Beach Bunny (5/1 co fav) trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by Chris Hayes in third
2009 The forerunner of the Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Grace O’Malley (15/2) trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, beating Tanoura (7/1) trained by John Oxx and ridden by Fran Berry, with Jakarta Jazz (9/1) trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by Chris Hayes in third
2010 The forerunner of the Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Grace O’Malley (7/2) trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, beating Karasiyra (3/1) trained by John Oxx and ridden by Fran Berry, with Unity (2/1 fav) trained by David Wachman and ridden by Johnny Murtagh in third
2011 The forerunner of the Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Banimpire (7/4 fav) trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning, beating Sense of Purpose (14/1) trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, with Amazing Beauty (12/1) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Colm O’Donoghue in third
2012 The forerunner of the Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Sapphire (11/8 fav) trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, beating Betterbetterbetter (9/2) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, with Soon (8/1) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Seamie Heffernan in third
2013 The forerunner of the Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Midnight Soprano (5/1) trained by Pail Deegan and ridden by Marc Monaghan, beating Magical Dream (8/1) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, with Cubanita (9/4 fav) trained by Ralph Beckett and ridden by Jim Crowley in third
2014 The Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Venus De Milo (5/2) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Joseph O’Brien. Beating Dazzling (9/2) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, with Circling (14/1) trained by David Wachman and ridden by Wayne Lordan in third
2015 The Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Words (5/2) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, beating Carla Bianca (Evens fav) trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, with Roheryn (3/1) trained by Ger Lyons and ridden by Andrea Atzeni in third
2016 The Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Pretty Perfect (3/1) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, beating Shamreen (11/8 fav) trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, with Best in the World (20/1) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Michael Hussey in third
2017 The Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Santa Monica (20/1) trained by Charles O’Brien and ridden by Billy Lee, beating Butterflies (9/1) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Wayne Lordan, with Glamorous Approach (9/4 fav) trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning in third
2018 The Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Flattering (5/2) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, beating Bloomfield (5/2) trained by Bill McCreery and ridden by Billy Lee, with Sizzling (16/1) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Wayne Lordan in third
2019 The Munster Oaks over 1 mile 4 furlongs was won by Who’s Steph (Evens fav) trained by Ger Lyons and ridden by Colin Keane, beating Peach Tree (3/1) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, with Moteo (16/1) trained by John Oxx and ridden by Ronan Whelan in third

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses
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