The South Tipperary course of Clonmel first staged racing in the early 19th century, although at that time it was on open ground which was freely accessible to the public. The course, in the Powerstown area of Clonmel, is located just over a mile from the town centre and first held races in the early part of the 19th century on an unenclosed course on Powerstown Park. As well as making use of the Park for Clonmel races, steeplechase meetings were staged on the Kilsheelan course in the middle of the 19th century. It was clear that an unenclosed course had a number of difficulties to overcome, not least the problems of safety and collection of entrance money to make the meetings viable. In 1912 Villiers Morton Jackson formed a Committee to discuss the possibility of enclosing the Park and developing one of the most up to date courses in the country. He was innovative and forward thinking, roping off enclosures for bookmakers to operate, eradicating the problem of other gambling games taking place which often led to fighting, and introducing an entry fee, as well as an additional 2 shilling fee to access the stand. The inaugural meeting took place on Wednesday 2nd April 1913, with further meetings that year in May, August and September. The course was the first to introduce overnight declarations. It was renamed Clonmel in the 1970s. Today the course stages a number of prominent races, including the Grade 3 Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle over 3 miles and Clonmel Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs. It is a right handed track of one and a quarter miles with a stiff uphill finish which currently hosts 12 fixtures annually.
Wednesday 2nd April 1913
Maiden Hurdle Plate (£200) over 1 ½ miles
1. Never Again (2/1 fav) owned by Mr P Rogere and ridden by G Brown
2. Molemill (100/8) owned by Captain H Dixon and ridden by A Sully
3. Golden Heart (100/8) owned by Mr J F McCarthy and ridden by M Smith
Welter Plate (£100) over 2 ¼ miles
1. Willie Wagtail (2/1 fav) owned by Mr Parkinson and ridden by J C Kelly
2. Tirheigh (9/2) owned by Mr J Coughlan and ridden by J A Trench
3. Newcastle (5/2) owned by Mr P McLoughin and ridden by J Manly
Maiden Steeplechase (£200) over 2 miles 1 furlong
1. Heather Decre (2/1 fav) owned by Mr E J Hope and ridden by L Brabazon
2. Kermoge (8/1) owned and ridden by Captain Stacpoole
3. Knocktoran (10/1) owned by Mr D Moloney and ridden by T Regan
Powerstown Plate (£50) over 1 ½ miles
1. Safety Valve (8/1) owned by Miss Keay and ridden by J Bresnane
2. Don’t Wink (Evens fav) owned by Mr T G Evans and ridden by L Brabazon
3. Hackler’s Bey (100/8) owned by Mr G Wilson and ridden by G F Wilson
Regulation Plate (£50) over 3 miles 3 furlongs
1. Hugomart (7/4) owned by Mr Lloyd and ridden by J McCormick
2. Swallow Hawk (4/6 fav) owned by Lord Dudley and ridden by T S Sheridan
Only 2 finished
The Clonmel (Oil) Chase was first run in 1992 over 3 miles, but two years later the distance was reduced to its present day 2 miles 4 furlongs. A list of previous winners is shown below:-
1992 The Clonmel Chase over 3 miles was won by Fissure (8/1) trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Charlie Swan, beating Ebony Jane (7/4 fav) trained by Francis Flood and ridden by T J Mitchell, with Final Tub (11/2) trained by V T O’Brien and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer in third
1993 The Clonmel Chase over 3 miles was won by King of the Gales (4/5 fav) trained by John Kiely and ridden by Charlie Swan, beating Haki Saki (100/30) trained by Augustine Leahy and ridden by G M O’Neill, with Lady Bar (11/1) trained by Michael Croke and ridden by P M Verling in third
1994 The Clonmel Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Belvederian (6/4 fav) trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer, beating Sullane River (9/4) trained by David McGrath and ridden by C O’Brien, with Haki Saki (5/1) trained by Augustine Leahy and ridden by G M O’Neill in third
1995 The Clonmel Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Imperial Call (7/4 fav) trained by Fergie Sutherland and ridden by Gerry O’Neill, beating King of the Gales (12/1) trained by John Kiely and ridden by K F O’Brien, with Jassu (5/2) trained by John Kiely and ridden by Charlie Swan in third
1996 The Clonmel Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Royal Mountbrowne (6/1) trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Charlie Swan, beating Belvederian (6/1) trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer, with Love The Lord (12/1) trained by Daniel O’Connell and ridden by Tommy Treacy in third
1997 The Clonmel Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Dorans Pride (1/2 fav) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Richard Dunwoody, beating Imperial Call (13/8) trained by Fergus Sutherland and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer, with Merry People (20/1) trained by John Queally and ridden by Jason Titley in third
1998 The Clonmel Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Dorans Pride (1/5 fav) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Richard Dunwoody, beating Merry People (16/1) trained by John Queally and ridden by Jason Titley, with Mr Jeeves (33/1) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Ruby Walsh in third
1999 The Clonmel Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Dorans Pride (4/5 fav) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Paul Hourigan, beating His Song (2/1) trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by Adrian Maguire, with Inis Cara (12/1) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Paul Carberry in third
2000 The Clonmel Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Dorans Pride (4/6 fav) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Paul Hourigan, beating Clash of the Gales (25/1) trained by T Hogan and ridden by K P Gaule, with Slaney Native (9/4) trained by Mrs Jessica Harrington and ridden by Paul Moloney in third
2001 The Clonmel Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Moscow Express (5/1) trained by Francis Crowley and ridden by Shay Barry, beating Micko’s Dream (4/6 fav) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, with Ferbet Junior (5/1) trained by Mrs Jessica Harrington and ridden by Barry Geraghty in third
2002 The Clonmel Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Beef or Salmon (7/2) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Paul Carberry, beating Sackville (4/1) trained by Ms F M Cowley and ridden by David Casey, with Cregg House (11/2) trained by Paddy Mullins and ridden by Davy Russell in third
2003 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Edredon Bleu (2/1) trained by Henrietta Knight and ridden by Jim Culloty, beating Arctic Copper (10/1) trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Paul Carberry, with Beef or Salmon (4/5 fav) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Timmy Murphy in third
2004 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Rathgar Beau (4/1 co fav) trained by Dusty Sheehy and ridden by Shay Barry, beating Cloudy Bays (6/1) trained by C Byrnes and ridden by Davy Russell, with Alcapone (25/1) trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by B M Cash in third
2005 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by War of Attrition (1/2 fav) trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer, beating Rathgar Beau (2/1) trained by E Sheehy and ridden by J R Barry, with Alcapone (33/1) trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by Barry Geraghty in third
2006 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Sir Oj (11/8 fav) trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Paul Carberry, beating Kill Devil Hill (4/1) trained by Paul Nolan and ridden by John Cullen, with Sher Beau (5/2) trained by Philip Fenton and ridden by Davy Russell in third
2007 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Mossbank (7/2) trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Davy Russell, beating Knight Legend (4/1) trained by Mrs Jessica Harrington and ridden by Barry Geraghty, with Light on the Broom (12/1) trained by Gerard Stack and ridden by Robbie Power in third
2008 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Glenfinn Captain (5/2) trained by Tom Taaffe and ridden by Barry Geraghty, beating One Cool Cookie (16/1) trained by Charlie Swan and ridden by David Casey, with Light on the Broom (12/1) trained by Gerard Stack and ridden by Mark Walsh in third
2009 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Watson Lake (13/2) trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Paul Carberry, beating One Cool Cookie (3/1) trained by Charlie Swan and ridden by Davy Russell, with Conna Castle (8/1) trained by James Joseph Mangan and ridden by Andrew McNamara in third
2010 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Tranquil Sea (10/11 fav) trained by Eddie O’Grady and ridden by Andrew McNamara, beating Let Yourself Go (5/1) trained by Adrian Maguire and ridden by S J Hassell, with Scotsirish (9/2) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend in third
2011 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Tranquil Sea (5/4 fav) trained by Eddie O’Grady and ridden by Barry Geraghty, beating Psycho (7/2) trained by Tony Martin and ridden by Ruby Walsh, with Tharawaat (7/4) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Davy Russell in third
2012 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Sizing Europe (1/7 fav) trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Andrew Lynch, beating Magnanimity (12/1) trained by Dessie Hughes and ridden by Davy Russell, with Let Yourself Go (40/1) trained by Martin Hassett and ridden by S J Hassett in third
2013 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Arvika Ligeonniere (4/5 fav) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, beating Toner D’Oudairies (13/2) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Davy Russell, with Texas Jack (5/1) trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Barry Geraghty in third
2014 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Champagne Fever (8/11 fav) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, beating Alderwood (11/1) trained by Thomas Mullins and ridden by Mark Walsh, with Realt Mor (11/1) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Davy Russell in third
2015 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Road To Riches (8/13 fav) trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Bryan Cooper, beating Bright New Dawn (8/1) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Keith Donoghue, with Felix Younger (11/4) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh in third
2016 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Alelchi Inois (2/1 fav) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, beating Clarcam (12/1) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy, with Monksland (5/2) trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Sean Flanagan in third
2017 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Alpha Des Obeaux (7/1) trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by Sean Flanagan, beating A Toi Phil (3/1) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy, with Balko Des Flos (11/10 fav) trained by Henry De Bromhead and ridden by Davy Russell in third
2018 The Clonmel Oil Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs was won by Kemboy (11/8 fav) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, beating Alpha Des Obeaux (6/4) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy, with A Toi Phil (8/1) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Davy Russell in third
