Dundalk Horse Races

The all-weather track at Dundalk opened its doors in 2007, 4 years after the greyhound track and features floodlit racing on the 1 and a quarter left handed oval race track where all races are run on the polytrack surface.

In the past National Hunt racing was available at Dundalk on a turf racecourse but that closed in 2001.

The Diamond Stakes is the highest-class race to be run at Dundalk after been awarded Group 3 status in 2009. The Patton Stakes, a listed sprint race run over 7 furlongs is also a notable race.

With Dundalk offer some of the best racing in Ireland, make sure you miss non of the action by register with our Dundalk racing live streaming partners. Watch Dundalk races live online with every race available to stream live.

With lot’s of great action coming from Dundalk race track, the great news for all racing fans is that you can watch each and every race live online via our Dundalk Racing Live Stream partners.

As one of the newest racecourses in the world, Dundalk may not have the heritage and the history to back up fantastic racing with prestige and that can often lead to races from the track been overlooked by other racing providers but the live streaming services on this page bring you action from each and every race.

The great news for fans is that you can not only watch every race if you want to but you can watch just the races you want to.

With Dundalk racecourse been amongst the most modern in the Republic of Ireland and also with the all-weather track at the course, it is capable of hosting all year around and that makes it a great course for fans to watch action from.

After the closure of the course turf National Hunt course in 2001. There is no longer any jump racing held at Dundalk with flat racing the order of the day at Dundalk.

There are a number of notable races held at the course throughout the year including the Patton Stakes (a listed race run over 1 mile for horses aged 3 year old), the Diamond Stakes (a group 3 race run over 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 150 yards for horses aged 3 and over) and the Mercury Stakes (a group 3 race run over 5 furlongs for horses aged 2 years old and over).

No matter if you want to watch one of the great race above or any other action from Dundalk, the great news for fans is that it has never been easier to watch racing from Dundalk live.

No longer do you need to be at the course in person or to make the long trip to town to see if your nearest bookie is showing a feed of the racing, you can now watch each and every race from Dundalk live online via our Dundalk racing live stream partners.

Whilst the online bookmakers featured on this page do have a wagering requirement to be able to watch the action live, the chances are that if you are wanting to watch racing from Dundalk live, you are also interested in betting on the action anyway.

Choose Where To Watch

All of these bookies offer live Dundalk races streaming, choose your favourite or simply the bookie requiring the lowest stake (the bet you need to place to watch live horse racing via the bookmaker). All of these streaming service offer Dundalk Racing Live Streams.

If you have already placed a bet with a bookie that does not allow you to watch the races live, make sure your next bet is with one of the great bookies featured on this page and you will be able to cheer on your chosen horse and hopefully watch along as it races away to victory!

All you need to do is register with one of these great services and meet the wagering requirement to watch racing from Dundalk racecourse live.

Watch Racing Live Via

NAME	LOCATIONS	DETAILS
	*All GB and Ireland *Australia *USA *South Africa *France *Singapore	Watch EVERY UK & IRE race at bet365. For races on At The Races, place a bet 24hrs prior or have a funded account to qualify. For any other UK tracks, place a qualifying bet of at least £0.50 win or £0.25 EW. Geo location, eligibility and live streaming rules apply.		Watch Here (18+ #ad)
	*Some GB * Some Ireland *USA *South Africa *France	Registration and deposited account needed. Minimum bet of £1 needed. Only available to eligible customers. Live Streaming rules apply.		Bet Here (18+ #ad)

History of Dundalk Racecourse

Horse racing at Dowdallshill: Origins in 1889

The history of horse racing in Dundalk dates back to the nineteenth century. According to Dundalk Stadium’s official historical account, organised horse racing took place at Dowdallshill from 1889. The venue became an important part of the town’s sporting life, attracting owners, trainers, jockeys, bookmakers and spectators from the surrounding area.

Dundalk’s location in County Louth, close to the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, helped make it accessible to racing communities across the north-east. The town was already an established commercial centre, and racing provided another attraction for visitors and local residents alike.

Early racing at Dowdallshill belonged to the traditional turf-racing era, when meetings depended on outdoor track conditions and the seasonal demands of the sport. The course hosted flat racing and National Hunt events during its history, reflecting the broad appeal of horse racing in Ireland.

The early years of racing in Dundalk also formed part of the wider development of Irish racing. During the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, racecourses across the country became increasingly organised, with more structured fixture lists, professional race management and improved facilities for spectators and competitors.

For generations, Dowdallshill provided a venue where local racing fans could watch horses compete and follow the careers of jockeys and trainers. Although the site would eventually be replaced by a modern stadium, its contribution remains an important part of Dundalk’s racing heritage.

The history of greyhound racing in Dundalk

Dundalk’s racing tradition is not limited to horses. Greyhound racing also developed a substantial following in the town, with the sport operating for almost seventy years at its former home at The Ramparts before moving to the modern stadium.

Greyhound racing became a popular spectator sport across Ireland during the twentieth century. Its short races and rapid action offered a different form of entertainment from horse racing, and tracks developed social facilities to accommodate regular audiences.

The existence of two established racing traditions in Dundalk later became a major factor in the development of Dundalk Stadium. Rather than maintaining separate venues for each sport, the modern facility was designed to bring horse and greyhound racing together within a single complex.

This combination helped distinguish Dundalk from other racecourses and laid the foundations for the dual-purpose operation that continues today. The stadium’s identity reflects both its heritage and its willingness to adapt to changing expectations in sports and entertainment.

1999: The beginning of a new era

A major organisational development came in 1999, when Dundalk Race Company PLC and Dundealgan Greyhound Racing Company Limited merged to form Dundalk Racing (1999) Ltd. The merger brought the two racing operations together under a shared organisation and helped establish the basis for a modern combined venue.

The proposal offered an opportunity to invest in facilities that could serve both horse racing and greyhound racing. The intention was to create a contemporary stadium capable of attracting audiences throughout the year, rather than relying solely on the traditional turf-racing season.

The project also addressed a need within Irish racing for a dedicated all-weather horse racing track. Turf meetings could be affected by unsuitable ground conditions, particularly during winter, limiting the number of opportunities available to owners and trainers. A synthetic track would help provide a more consistent surface and allow racing to take place during months when turf fixtures were more vulnerable to weather disruption.

Horse Racing Ireland eventually supported the development, recognising its potential to expand the country’s racing infrastructure. The project became one of the most significant modern investments in Irish horse racing, introducing facilities and a racing surface that had not previously been available in Ireland.

2003: The opening of Dundalk Stadium

The modern Dundalk Stadium opened as a greyhound racing venue in November 2003. This marked an important step in the development of the combined stadium, establishing the site as a new home for the town’s greyhound racing tradition.

The stadium provided modern spectator facilities and a dedicated greyhound track, creating the foundation for the later addition of horse racing. It was designed to offer a more comprehensive visitor experience, incorporating viewing areas, food and drink facilities and other amenities associated with a contemporary sporting venue.

The development also helped bring Dundalk’s two racing traditions together in a purpose-built location. Greyhound racing had previously been based at The Ramparts, while horse racing had a much longer association with Dowdallshill. The new stadium represented a significant change in the way racing was organised and presented in the town.

The opening of the greyhound venue was only the first stage of the wider project. The introduction of an all-weather horse racing track would follow in 2007, transforming Dundalk Stadium into a distinctive dual-purpose racing destination.

2007: Ireland’s first all-weather horse racing track

One of the most important dates in the history of Dundalk Racecourse is 26 August 2007, when the all-weather horse racing track officially opened. The event marked the first all-weather horse racing meeting in Ireland and represented a major milestone for the national racing industry.

The new track was built with a Polytrack synthetic surface, designed to provide consistent footing under a range of weather conditions. The project also introduced floodlighting, allowing horse racing to take place in the evening and extending the range of available fixtures beyond conventional daytime meetings.

The new all-weather course measured approximately 10 furlongs, or 2,000 metres, around an oval circuit, with a separate five-furlong sprint track. The facilities included an extended grandstand, a parade ring, a weighing room and stabling for approximately 130 horses.

The opening meeting attracted considerable attention from the racing community. Michael Halford’s Ms Victoria made history as the first winner on the new track, while Charlie Swan’s Emmpat won the featured August Handicap. The results became part of the course’s early history and helped establish its identity within Irish flat racing.

The introduction of the new surface was significant because it allowed horses to race during periods when turf racing could be disrupted by poor weather. It also created additional opportunities for trainers to run their horses and gave owners more flexibility when planning campaigns.

September 2007: Floodlit evening racing begins

The next milestone came on 27 September 2007, when Dundalk staged its first floodlit horse racing meeting. The introduction of evening racing created a new format for Irish racegoers and established one of the venue’s defining characteristics.

Floodlighting allowed meetings to be scheduled later in the day, making it easier for spectators to attend after work and creating a different atmosphere from traditional afternoon fixtures. The concept also helped the stadium make fuller use of its all-weather surface during the autumn and winter.

The new format proved important to the development of Dundalk’s calendar. Evening meetings became a regular feature, and the venue developed a reputation as a destination for winter flat racing.

The stadium also demonstrated its ability to combine sporting events. On 5 December 2007, Dundalk hosted what contemporary reports described as the first combined horse and greyhound racing meeting in Europe. An eight-race greyhound programme followed the horse racing, providing a novel format that made use of both tracks within the same evening.

The event illustrated the advantages of Dundalk’s dual-purpose facilities and helped distinguish it from conventional horse racing venues. Rather than offering a single sporting programme, the stadium could provide visitors with two different types of racing during one visit.

2008 onwards: Establishing a place in Irish flat racing

Following its opening, Dundalk quickly became an established part of the Irish flat racing calendar. The all-weather surface allowed the venue to host regular meetings outside the traditional turf season, particularly during the colder months.

The new course also supported the development of important races. The Diamond Stakes became one of the venue’s leading middle-distance contests and was upgraded to Group 3 status in 2009. The Mercury Stakes, a sprint race, was subsequently upgraded to Group 3 status in 2018.

These developments strengthened Dundalk’s standing within Irish racing. The course was no longer simply a place to stage additional winter fixtures; it was becoming a venue for significant races that attracted horses and trainers seeking valuable prizes and opportunities to demonstrate their ability.

The all-weather track also created a useful platform for developing horses. Trainers could use Dundalk to assess young runners, introduce horses to racing conditions and maintain fitness during the winter. For owners and racing professionals, access to a consistent surface helped provide more flexibility in planning a horse’s season.

Modern Dundalk Stadium: Horse racing and greyhound racing together

Today, Dundalk Stadium continues to operate as a combined horse and greyhound racing venue on Racecourse Road in Dundalk, County Louth. Its horse racing programme focuses on flat racing over the all-weather Polytrack surface, with regular meetings scheduled throughout much of the year.

The fixture list includes Friday evening meetings and selected midweek dates, including afternoon fixtures on certain occasions. The exact calendar varies annually, so visitors should consult the official website for up-to-date race dates, admission details and start times.

Greyhound racing remains an important part of the stadium’s identity, with regular meetings on Friday and Saturday nights. Selected Friday fixtures feature both horse and greyhound racing, allowing visitors to enjoy the two sports in one venue.

The stadium also offers restaurants, bars, hospitality facilities and spectator areas designed to support both casual visits and special occasions. Its location close to the M1 makes it accessible to visitors travelling from Dublin, Belfast and other parts of the north-east.

From the traditional horse racing meetings at Dowdallshill in 1889 to the opening of Ireland’s first all-weather horse racing track in 2007, Dundalk’s history demonstrates how a long-standing sporting tradition can evolve through investment and innovation. The move to a combined stadium, the adoption of Polytrack and the introduction of floodlit racing transformed the local racing experience.

For modern visitors, Dundalk Races offers the chance to enjoy competitive Irish flat racing in a distinctive setting. The venue’s history is reflected in its dual-purpose facilities, its winter racing programme and its role in developing opportunities for horses and racing professionals. Whether you visit for Friday Night Lights, a major flat race or a combined horse and greyhound meeting, Dundalk Stadium remains a distinctive part of Ireland’s sporting landscape.