Earliest meeting: August 1831
Final meeting: Thursday 22nd September 1842
The Irish racecourse on Howth Park, a suburb of Dublin, was the seat of the Earl of Howth who lived in Howth Castle. The course had its own Howth Park Race Club, grandstand, loyal group of local Corinthian supporters and a powerful list of patrons. The first races were organised by the 3rd Earl of Howth in August 1831, with the card consisting of a series of matches and steeplechases. Meetings continued for the next 11 years. Although initially launched as a meeting for the landed gentry, their appeal was extended in 1834 to incorporate a Tradesmen’s Cup into the programme, and by 1839 a Citizens’ Plate was added. An important, extensive 3 day meeting was held between Tuesday 2nd and Thursday 4th August 1836 which opened with the St Lawrence Stakes, over 1 ½ miles, which was restricted to Howth Park Club and Corinthian members. The crowd were delirious when Lord Howth’s Delirium defeated Orleans and Jungle Admee. The good Lord also won the following Vaughan Goblet with Stiff. Later in the meeting the Garrison Stakes went to Blossom, the Convivial to Charley and the Tradesmen’s Cup to Lord Milton’s Argirio. The final three day meeting was staged from Tuesday 20th to Thursday 22nd September 1842, opening with the Howth Park Warblers Sweepstake which went to Young Rainbow for Mr T Kelly. The principal race, the Vaughan Goblet, was won appropriately enough by Mr Vaughan’s Pickpocket. Racing then ceased at the racecourse, although Howth races did combine with Baldoyle to stage races on the Baldoyle course from 1853.

Tuesday 2nd to Thursday 4th August 1836

St Lawrence Stakes over a mile and a half
1. Delirium owned by Lord Howth
2. Orleans owned by Mr McDonough
3. Jungle Admee owned by Lord Miltown
Only members of the Howth Park Club or Corinthians were allowed to enter this race.

The Vaughan Goblet over 2 miles
1. Stiff owned by Lord Howth
2. Wait-a-While owned by Lord Mulgrave
3. Comrade owned by Mr French

Garrison Stakes over a mile and a half
1. Blossom owned by Mr Burke
2. Expedition owned by Mr Stanley

Convivial Stakes over a mile
1. Charley owned by Mr French
2. Dan O’Connell owned by Mr Donnelan
3. Lilka owned by Lord Howth

Tradesman’s Cup over 1 ¾ miles
1. Argirio owned by Lord Miltown
2. Delirium owned by Mr Osborne
3. Remnant owned by Lord Howth

Mulgrave Stakes over 1 ½ miles
1. Emu owned by Lord Howth
2. Charley owned by Mr French
3. Zora owned by Captain Stanley

Scurry Stakes over ½ mile
1. Gaffer Grey owned by Mr Knaresbro’
2. Orleans owned by Mr McDonough
3. Lilka owned by Lord Howth

Tuesday 15th to Thursday 17th May 1855

The Scramble Stakes over 4 furlongs
1. Curragh Lass owned by Mr Langan
2. Eloise owned by Mr Atkinson
3. Alfred Day owned by Mr Irwin

The Howth Stakes over 2 ¼ miles
1. Seducer owned by Mr J Osborne
2. Eglinton owned by Mr Maxwell
3. Wild Irish Girl owned by Lord Waterford

The Slane Stakes over 4 furlongs
1. Good Friday owned by Mr Nunn
2. Sugarplum owned by Lord Annesley
3. Unnamed filly by Seahorse

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

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