Early records show that racing first took place in County Kerry at Ballyeagh, some 9 miles from Listowel, although those early meetings were troublesome affairs and a more permanent, trouble-free course was established in Listowel in 1858. The first two day meeting took place on the 5th and 6th October 1858. The racecourse was originally administered by the North Kerry Hunt Committee and is situated on the outskirts of town, about 16 miles North of Tralee and 50 miles from Limerick.

At the turn of the Century a meeting took place at Listowel on Saturday 13th October 1900, and the result of the feature race is shown below.

Saturday 13th October 1900

The County Handicap Plate over 1 ½ miles
1. Glena bay owned by Mr J O’Neill
2. Kate Conway owned by Mr J O’G.Delmege
3. Unnamed mare by The Robber owned by Mr B Kirby
The winner was the 2/1 favourite and prevailed by ½ a length

It was 1924 before the course became enclosed and a grandstand built, and it was 25 years later, just 4 years after the end of the Second World War, that the Listowel Race Company was formed putting the administration of the course on a very firm footing.

By 1970 the Listowel Festival was launched, initially as a four day Festival, but this gradually increased to 5 and then increased still further. The course celebrates its most popular series of races each September at its Listowel Festival with a 6 day meeting, which includes a long weekend. Our World Racing Correspondent Joseph Geoghegan comments on how he enjoys the 90 minute drive through beautiful countryside from his home, and recommends lunch at the Horseshoe Bar and Restaurant, 14 Lower William Street. I am grateful to him for providing the photos of the course shown below, and recent racecards.

Major feature races include the Kingdom EBF Handicap, the Kerry National and the Carlsberg Chase. Monty's Pass captured the Kerry National prior to winning the Grand National at Aintree. In a recent renewal of the race in September 2008 Ponmeoath, ridden by Paddy Flood, was successful for the second consecutive year.

For further reading and research ‘Listowel Races 1858-1991 A History’ by John O’Flaherty is suggested.

If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnslusar@fsmail.net

Much of the information about this course has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-

London Illustrated News

Racing Illustrated 1895-1899

The Sporting & Dramatic Illustrated

Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough

The Sporting Magazine

A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8

Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727