Downpatrick Racecourse

Downpatrick Racecourse, located one mile from the town of Downpatrick in County Down, is one of the two horse racing courses in Northern Ireland, (the other being Down Royal).

The first race meeting at Downpatrick was held in 1685 under the charter of James II of England. The king issued letters patent creating The Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders in the County of Down.

Although Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, horse racing is run on an All Ireland basis, so Downpatrick falls under the aegis of Horse Racing Ireland rather than the British Horseracing Authority.

The course now stages only National Hunt racing following the discontinuation of Flat Racing at the track. The feature race at the course is the Ulster National Handicap Chase run over a distance of 3 miles 4 furlongs 110 yards.

External links

• Official site

References

1. Downpatrick
2. Downpatrick Racecourse Platform railway station
3. Belfast and County Down Railway
4. Downpatrick Loop Platform railway station
5. Racing TV
6. List of British racecourses
7. Downpatrick, Killough and Ardglass Railway
8. List of horse racing venues
9. Pineau de Re
10. Horse racing in Ireland
11. Ballynoe railway station
12. Newmill (horse)
13. Flooring Porter
14. Seazun
15. Put The Kettle On
16. Horse racing in Great Britain
17. List of radio stations in the United Kingdom
18. List of acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1879
19. List of B roads in Northern Ireland
20. History of rail transport in Ireland