Along with its near neighbour Downpatrick, Down Royal first had a connection with racing through its association with the Down Royal Corporation of Horsebreeders in 1685; its Royal Charter was issued by James II. Racing has been held on the current course at Maze since the early 18th century, developed on land donated by Arthur Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire. One of the earliest prestigious races run at the track was the £100 Kings Plate donated by King George II in 1750. Over 260 years later a race, Her Majesty’s Plate, is still contested at the track with funds donated from the Privy Purse. Over time the meetings were billed as both Maze and Down Royal races. Today the principal Flat races at the track are the Ulster Derby over 1 mile 4 furlongs and the Ulster Oaks, whilst the Grade 1 JNwine Champion Chase over 3 miles is the main steeplechase held at the track. Other feature races include the Grade 2 Skymas Chase, the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle and the Grade 3 Down Royal Mares Novice Hurdle. Although racing was administered by the Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders, the track was owned by the Merrion Property Group. This relationship worked well until October 2018 when disputes arose, culminating in the last meeting of the Down Royal Corporation in December 2018, with the Merrion Property Group taking over full responsibility in January 2019. Currently the course hosts 11 fixtures annually.
The JNwine Champion Chase over 3 miles was first staged in 1999. A list of previous winners is shown below:-
1999 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Florida Pearl trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Carberry
2000 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Looks Like Trouble trained by Noel Chance and ridden by Richard Johnson
2001 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Foxchapel King trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by David Casey
2002 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by More Than A Stroll trained by Arthur Moore and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer
2003 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Glenelly Gale trained by Arthur Moore and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer
2004 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Beef or Salmon trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Timmy Murphy
2005 The JNwine Champion Chase was not contested
2006 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Beef or Salmon trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Andrew McNamara
2007 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Taranis trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh
2008 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Kauto Star trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh
2009 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by The Listener trained by Nick Mitchell and ridden by Andrew McNamara
2010 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Kauto Star trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Ruby Walsh
2011 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Quito de la Roque trained by Colm Murphy and ridden by Davy Russell
2012 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Kauto Stone trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Daryl Jacob
2013 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Roi du Mee trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Bryan Cooper
2014 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Road To Riches trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Paul Carberry
2015 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Don Cossack trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Bryan Cooper
2016 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Valseur Lido trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Ruby Walsh
2017 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Outlander trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy
2018 The JNwine Champion Chase was won by Road To Respect trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Sean Flanagan
The Ulster Derby for 3 year olds is contested over 1 mile 4 furlongs and 150 yards and was first held in 1936 when won by Black Domino. Full results of the prestigious event, the most valuable Flat race in Northern Ireland, are shown below:-
1936 The Ulster Derby was won by Black Domino, owned by Mr Marshall Field, trained by Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort and ridden by Joe Canty, beating Reward (Billy Nevett) by ½ length, with Battle Song (Gardner) in third
1937 The Ulster Derby was won by Owenstown (100/8) owned by Senator Sir Thomas Dixon, trained by M Peacock and ridden by J Taylor, beating Strong Current (10/1) ridden by Tommy Burns by a short head, with Barking Fox (9/4) ridden by Willie Stephenson 1 ½ lengths back in third
1938 The Ulster Derby was won by Summer Soldier (4/1) owned by Major H C Robinson, trained by Colonel Blake and ridden by Morny Wing, beating Ajar (10/1) ridden by J Moylan and owned by Mr McCavana by 1 ½ lengths, with Umgall (6/1) ridden by J Taylor and owned by Sir Thomas Dixon 3 lengths back in third
1939 The Ulster Derby was won by Mondragon (9/4) owned by Mr P J Ruttledge and ridden and trained by Joe Canty, beating Summer Solstice (100/8) ridden by Morny Wing by a neck, with Crushed Corn (2/1 fav) ridden by Tommy Burns a short head back in third
1940 – 1946 The Ulster Derby was not contested
1947 The Ulster Derby was won by Heron Bridge (3/1) owned by Mr J G Davies, trained by Darby Rogers and ridden by M Molony, beating Grand Weather (10/11 fav) ridden by Tommy Burns by a neck, with Sans Tache (7/1) ridden by Morny Wing 2 lengths back in third
1948 The Ulster Derby was won by Soodani (3/1 jf) owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by H M Hartigan and ridden by Morny Wing, beating Interrogated (33/1) owned by Mr R McIlhagga and ridden by John Power by a head, with Grey Abbey (3/1 jf) owned by Mr C D Butler and ridden by M Molony 2 ½ lengths back in third
1949 The Ulster Derby was won by Owens Cuts (8/1) owned by Lord Glentoran and ridden by J Powell junior, beating In Credit (2/1 fav) owned by Mrs A H Watts and ridden by Morny Wing by 3 lengths, with Pink Larkspur (9/4) owned by Mr T Donnelly and ridden by John Power ¾ length back in third
1950 The Ulster Derby was won by Turkish Prince (13/2) owned by Mr R McIlhagga, trained by Paddy Prendergast and ridden by J W Thompson, beating Lonely Maid (4/1) ridden by Tommy Burns by 4 lengths, with Mighty Ocean (4/1) ridden by Aubrey Brabazon half a length back in third
1951 The Ulster Derby was won by Chadwick Manor (4/1) owned by Mr Joseph McGrath, trained by Paddy Prendergast and ridden by Jimmy Eddery, beating Bolivar (3/1) owned by Mr B Kerr and ridden by Phil Canty by 3 lengths, with Fair Contract (4/5 fav) owned by Miss Dorothy Paget and ridden by Aubrey Brabazon 2 lengths back in third
1952 The Ulster Derby was won by Royal Blue (11/10 fav) owned by Prince Aly Khan, trained by H M Hartigan and ridden by Phil Canty, beating Royal Coach (5/1) ridden by Liam Ward by 4 lengths, with Foxella (5/1) ridden by J Mullane 2 lengths back in third
1953 The Ulster Derby was won by Ardent Lover (4/1) owned by Mrs L McVey, trained by Michael Hurley and ridden by M Kennedy, beating Clonleason (2/5 fav) owned by Mr A L Hawkins and ridden by Liam Ward by 2 ½ lengths, with Treetops Hotel (10/1) owned by Mr T S Reeves and ridden by Phil Canty 2 lengths back in third
1954 The Ulster Derby was won by Red Winter (11/4) owned by Sir Winston Churchill, trained by Darby Rogers and ridden by Phil Canty, beating Blood Royal (10/1) owned by Lt-Colonel Giles Loder and ridden by John Power by 2 ½ lengths, with Calvero (6/1) owned by Mr B Kerr and ridden by Douglas Page half a length back in third
1955 -1961 The Ulster Derby was not contested, being replaced by the Down Royal Handicap
1962 The Ulster Derby was won by Atlantis (13/8 jf) ridden by Liam Ward, beating Pavot (13/8 jf) ridden by Garnie Bougoure by 2 ½ lengths, with River Whistle (20/1) ridden by Peter Boothman 2 lengths back in third
1963 The Ulster Derby was won by Christmas Island owned by Lord Ennisdale, trained by Paddy Prendergast and ridden by Garnie Bougoure, beating Hereford owned by Mrs W Macauley by 2 lengths, with L’Homme Arme (2/1 fav) owned by Mrs Ann Biddle 2 ½ lengths back in third
1965 The Ulster Derby was won by Newsrullah (10/1) owned by Mr D Lawrence, trained by Paddy Prendergast and ridden by Pat Matthews, beating Zend Avesta (3/1) ridden by P Sullivan, with Jealous (11/8 fav) ridden by Bill Williamson in third
1967 The Ulster Derby was won by Dan Kano (85/40) ridden by Lester Piggott and owned by Jimmy Lenehan, beating Signa Infesta (7/4 fav) by 6 lengths, with Lead The Way (8/1) in third
1969 The Ulster Derby was won by Onandaga
1971 The Ulster Derby was won by Tantoul
1973 The Ulster Derby was won by French Fable
1974 The Ulster Derby was won by Dumbwaiter
1976 The Ulster Derby was won by Captain Memory
1977 The Ulster Derby was won by Transworld
1979 The Ulster Derby was won by The Bart
1981 The Ulster Derby was won by Dance Bid
1989 The Ulster Derby was won by Lone Runner trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Ray Carroll
1990 The Ulster Derby was won by Nordic Region trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Willie Supple
1992 The Ulster Derby was won by Tijara trained by John Oxx and ridden by Johnny Murtagh
1993 The Ulster Derby was won by Kirov Premiere trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Christy Roche
1995 The Ulster Derby was won by Munif trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Michael Kinane
1996 The Ulster Derby was won by I’m Supposin trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by M Duffy
1998 The Ulster Derby was won by Dragon Triumph trained by Jim Gorman and ridden by Robbie Fitzpatrick
1999 The Ulster Derby was won by General Cloney trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Niall McCullagh
2001 The Ulster Derby resulted in a dead-heat between Citizen Edward, trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, and Masilia trained by John Oxx and ridden by Johnny Murtagh
2002 The Ulster Derby was won by Balapour trained by Oliver Brady and ridden by Tom Queally
2004 The Ulster Derby was won by Green Lassy trained by Ger Lyons and ridden by Padraig Beggy
2005 The Ulster Derby was won by Newlands North trained by Michael O’Brien and ridden by Rory Cleary
2007 The Ulster Derby was won by Temlett trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Chris Hayes
2008 The Ulster Derby was won by Fantoche trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Willie Supple
2010 The Ulster Derby was won by Celtic Dane trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by Chris Hayes
2011 The Ulster Derby was won by Banksters Bonus trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley
2013 The Ulster Derby was won by Sir Ector trained by Jimmy Lambe and ridden by Chris Hayes
2014 The Ulster Derby was won by Wexford Town trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning
2016 The Ulster Derby was won by Stellar Mass trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning
2017 The Ulster Derby was won by Clongowes trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Ronan Whelan
2019 The Ulster Derby was won by Dadoozart trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Shane Foley
