Killarney Racecourse History
NOTE:The badges displayed on this page are not authentic and are for artistic display only.

Racing was first held in the Killarney area of County Kerry in 1822, and continued using a number of different courses until 1901. In the early days the meetings were supported by Lord Clanmorris and the Earl of Kenmare, the feature race being the Kenmare Stakes from 1826 to 1830. At the meeting on Friday 30th June 1826 the Kenmare Stakes was won by Mr Hunter’s bay mare Fib (10/1), with the same owner following up the next year on Friday 6th July 1827 with Guiccioli (3/1 joint favourite), defeating Lord Clanmorris’s Sunflower into 6th place. The current course first staged a meeting in 1936 and soon gained a reputation as being a holiday meeting. It now specialises in hosting Festivals of Racing. There is a three day meeting in May, and four day meetings in July and August, and this recipe is working well. Currently the course, a 10 furlong left-handed oval course, hosts 11 fixtures annually, notably Summer Festivals in May, July and August.
Although Killarney remains a thriving racecourse, nearby Tralee closed its gates for the final time in 2008.
Racing in Tralee, county Kerry, began on Monday 10th August 1767 with a race restricted to Kerry bred horses. It was won by Spodill for Mr Bateman. The next day the Whim Plate went to Mark Anthony for Mr Denny, while a hunters’ race was won by Mr Quinn’s Old Ireland. The Tralee course was on the periphery of the town and at least six different locations were used over time. Racing moved to Ballybeggan Park in 1898, where it eventually ended its days. Prior to that date admission to the races was free, but a fence was erected around the Park to ensure that everyone paid. Racing continued until the 1930's when the Economic Recession forced the company into liquidation. The present Company bought the property in 1946, with fifty people contributing amounts of either £100 or £200 towards its purchase from the O'Connell family. After the War had ended racing resumed in October 1946. The Directors hit on the idea of the Rose of Tralee Festival, with the original Directors of the Festival drawn from members of the Race Company. With the success of the Festival racing thrived, quality horses were attracted to the course, encouraging crowds in their thousands. The principal races at the track were the Carling Gold Cup and Denny Gold Medal. The track closed its gates for the final time in August 2008 when crowds declined to an unviable level.
I am grateful to Google Maps (© Googlemap) for permission to use the map shown below.

Friday 30th June 1826
Kenmare Stakes (£50 added by the Earl of Kemare) over 1 ½ miles
1. Fib (10/1) bay mare owned by Mr Hunter
2. Lilias (5/1) bay horse owned by Mr Twiss
3. Clanwilliam (2/1 jt fav) chestnut colt owned by Mr Croker
4. Fanny (2/1 jt fav) chestnut filly owned by Mr Studdart
5. Liserth (16/1) bay mare owned by Mr Condon
Friday 6th July 1827
Kenmare Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Guiccioli (3/1 jt fav) chestnut Filly owned by Mr Hunter
2. Captain Rock (4/1) grey horse owned by Mr Kelly
3. Pilot (10/1) black colt owned by Mr Croker
4. Crockford (3/1 jt fav) bay horse owned by Mr Creagh
5. Corsair (10/1) chestnut horse owned by Mr Croker
6. Sunflower (4/1) bay gelding owned by Lord Clanmorris
7. Fisherman (7/1) brown horse owned by Mr Boyce
Monday 30th June 1828
Kenmare Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Clanwilliam, chestnut colt owned by Mr Creagh
2. Paragon, bay mare owned by Mr Croker
Friday 17th July 1829
Kenmare Stakes 100 sovereigns over 2 miles
(50 added by Stewards and 50 by Earl of Kenmare)
1. Courier, chestnut colt owned by Mr McDonnell
2. Cup-Bearer, bay horse owned by Mr Daxon
3. Sabrina, bay mare owned by Mr Hunter
4. Faulkland, chestnut horse owned by Mr Creagh
5. Emily, bay filly owned by Mr Croker
6. Foam, bay filly owned by Mr Studdart
Friday 9th July 1830
Kenmare Stakes 100 sovereigns over 2 miles
(50 added by Stewards and 50 by Earl of Kenmare)
1. Faulkland (8/1) chestnut horse owned by Mr Creagh
2. Courier (6/1) chestnut horse owned by Mr McDonnell
3. Ballysax (4/1) chestnut colt owned by Mr Flood
4. Henrietta (4/1) brown filly owned by Mr Harte
5. Damien De Lacy (5/2 fav) bay horse owned by Mr Blake

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
Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent.
ORDER FORM
Download an order form
  Quantity Cost
Volume 1 North of Hatfield £19.99 + £4 postage    
Volume 2 South of Hatfield £14.99 + £3 postage    
Volume 3 Wales & Scotland £9.99 + £3 postage    
Volume 4 Ireland £9.99 + £3 postage    
Volumes 1 - 4 £54.96 + £5 postage    
Postage & Packaging    
Total    
Email order form to johnwslusar@gmail.com