Richard Gauthier Collection

Leopardstown Racecourse

The Dublin based racecourse of Leopardstown is located 5 miles from the city centre and first opened its gates on Monday 27th August 1888. The course was the brainchild of Captain George Quin who had witnessed the Park courses being built in England in the mid-1870s and modelled Leopardstown on Sandown racecourse. He had been the genius behind the formation of the Leopardstown Race Company early in 1888, having previously been Keeper of the Match Book for the Irish Turf Club between 1885 and 1891. At the inaugural meeting over 50000 are reported to have attended. It hosts both Flat and National Hunt races, staging Group 1 races in each category. The Irish Champion Hurdle and Hennessey Gold Cup are two principal National Hunt races, while the Irish Champion Stakes is one of many top grade Flat races held at this top racecourse. Currently it hosts 22 fixtures annually.