Limerick Horse Races

The track itself at Limerick is a right handed oval track of 1 mile and three furlongs in length.

Although the current racecourse in Limerick was only opened in October 2001, it is actually the 7th racecourse in the region which can trace its history all of the way back to 1790.

Limerick offers a wide range of horse racers with many notable National Hunt races throughout the year including the Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase, the Limerick E.B.F. Mares Novice Hurdle, the Fergus O’Toole Memorial Novice Hurdle, the Greenmount Park Novice Chase and the Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle.

100% Legal Live Streams

All of the live horse racing streams featured on GGTV are 100% legal and 100% safe. Many websites feature illegal streams that simply steal the content direct from the likes of At The Races and Racing UK and whilst there may be a small cost to watch the races via legal streams (but let’s face it you are likely to be betting on the action anyway!) you can be sure that there are no computer viruses and/or other nasty’s infecting your computer/phone/tablet when watching.

So How is GGTV Different?

The streams that we feature here on GGTV are offered by bookmakers who have paid for the rights to bring you live horse racing action, so you can watch races that you have bet on.

What Can You Watch?

As one of Irelands leading racecourses, there is always lots of interest in the action taking place at the course and the great news for all fans of racing from limerick is that you can now easily watch all of the best action live online via the Limerick live stream services found on this page.

Limerick racecourse, known locally as Greenmount Park, offers racing all year round and something for everybody thanks to having both National Hunt (chase and hurdles) and flat racing on offer.

The great news for fans of the course or for horse racing fans in general is that you can now watch each and every race form the course live via our Limerick live stream partners.

Long gone are the days when you had to be at the track in person to be able to watch the racing or head into town in the hopes that your local bookies were showing the action, now you can pick and choose which races you watch and how you watch them.

You can watch races live on your mobile, laptop, computer or tablet and best of all there is no need to pay an expensive subscription to be able to watch the action and as we all know form the pay tv channels that do exist, if you want to watch a race it isn’t always featured.

There is aa requirement to be ton the action to be able to watch a race live but the chances are that if you are wanting to watch a live stream of racing from Limerick, you are also wanting to bet on the action.

If you have already bet or if your favourite bookie does not offer live streams of racing, make sure you use one of the great bookies on this page that offer live streaming of all of the races from Limerick Racecourse in the Republic of Ireland.

Never again miss cheering on your chosen horse as it, hopefully, races away to victory.

Whilst racing in Limerick has a long history, it has also been quite a turbulent one with this version of the course been the 7th one.

The modern facility features all you could need for a great days racing including some great action spread throughout the calendar year.

Top races to be held at the course include the Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase (a grade 2 ace run over 2 miles and 6 furlongs), the Limerick E.B.F. Mares Novice Hurdle (a grade 3 race runover 2 miles), the Fergus O’Toole Memorial Novice Hurdle (a grade 3 race run over 2 miles and 5 furlongs), the Greenmount Park Novice Chase (a grade 1 race run over 2 miles, 3 furlongs and 120 yards run on St Stephens Day) and the Dornas Pride Novice Hurdle (a grade 2 race run over 3 miles and held on the 29th December).

No matter if you are wanting to watch one of the bigger races above or any other race from the course, you can do just that via our Limerick races live streaming partners.

1790: The beginnings of horse racing in Limerick

The history of Limerick Races dates back to 1790, when organised horse racing was first established in the area. The sport developed during a period when racing was an important feature of Irish social and sporting life, bringing together local communities, landowners, horse breeders and enthusiasts.

Unlike modern racing, which relies on permanent facilities, carefully maintained courses and a regulated fixture calendar, early meetings took place at a variety of locations. Over the following 225 years, seven different local venues were used for racing in the Limerick area. These included Bruff, Rathkeale, Newcastle West, Lemonfield, Ballinacurra and Greenpark, reflecting the changing needs of organisers and the development of the sport across the county.

This movement between venues is an important part of Limerick’s racing history. It demonstrates that the region’s connection with horse racing is older than any individual racecourse and that the sport evolved through the efforts of successive generations of organisers and supporters.

The Greenpark era: A city-centre racing tradition

One of the most significant locations in Limerick’s racing history was Greenpark, situated in the city. The course became the established home of local racing for approximately 130 years, hosting meetings from the late nineteenth century until 1999.

Greenpark was more than a racing venue. Its location and open grounds allowed it to accommodate major public events, and it became an important part of Limerick’s sporting and civic life. The racecourse also hosted events unrelated to horse racing, helping establish its wider role as a venue for large gatherings.

In 1963, the course was used during the visit of United States President John F. Kennedy to Ireland. Kennedy addressed an audience of approximately 6,000 people at Greenpark, making the venue part of a significant moment in the city’s modern history. The visit reflected the importance of Limerick as a stop on the presidential tour and demonstrated Greenpark’s ability to host major public occasions.

Greenpark also played a role in international athletics. In 1979, Irish distance runner John Treacy won the World Cross Country Championships at the venue. His victory was an important achievement for Irish athletics and gave Greenpark a place in the history of international cross-country running.

Later that year, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at Greenpark during his visit to Ireland. The gathering attracted more than 400,000 people, according to accounts of the event. It was a remarkable occasion that demonstrated the scale of public gatherings the grounds could accommodate.

These events illustrate the varied history of the former racecourse. Although horse racing was central to its identity, Greenpark also became a venue for major sporting, civic and religious gatherings.

The need for a new racecourse

By the final decades of the twentieth century, the limitations of Greenpark had become increasingly apparent. Urban development had expanded around the city-centre course, leaving less room for the facilities and infrastructure expected of a modern racing venue. Traffic congestion and flooding problems also contributed to concerns about its long-term suitability.

The development of Irish horse racing meant that racecourses needed to accommodate changing expectations, including improved spectator facilities, more extensive parking, better access roads and modern stable and race-management facilities. Greenpark’s location made it difficult to deliver all these improvements while continuing to operate in a busy urban environment.

During the 1990s, the decision was taken to find a new site outside the city. The aim was not simply to relocate the existing operation but to create a purpose-built racecourse that could support the future of racing in the region.

In 1996, Greenmount Stud was purchased as the proposed new home of Limerick Racecourse. Situated near Patrickswell, approximately six kilometres from the city boundaries, the site offered nearly 400 acres of greenbelt farmland. It also had a local history of point-to-point racing, making it a natural location for the development of a permanent course.

1999: The final meeting at Greenpark

March 1999 marked the end of an important era when Limerick Racecourse at Greenpark closed its doors for the final time. The last meeting took place on Sunday 21 March 1999, bringing approximately 130 years of racing at the city-centre venue to a close.

The move represented a major change for local racing supporters, many of whom had associations with Greenpark stretching back decades. However, the decision reflected the practical requirements of the modern sport and the opportunities offered by the new site at Greenmount.

Closing Greenpark did not end Limerick’s racing tradition. Instead, it marked the transition from a historic urban course to a purpose-built venue designed to support both flat and National Hunt racing in the twenty-first century.

2001: Greenmount Park opens

After nearly four years of planning and development, the new Limerick Racecourse opened at Greenmount Park on 14 October 2001. The project involved an investment of approximately £12 million and represented a significant undertaking for Irish racing. The official racecourse history describes it as the first completely new racecourse built in Ireland in more than 60 years.

The inaugural meeting attracted a crowd of more than 18,000 racegoers, demonstrating the level of interest in the new venue. The opening was an important milestone for County Limerick and for the wider Munster racing community, providing modern facilities and a permanent home for the region’s racing programme.

The site required substantial engineering work before racing could begin. The land had a significant natural fall across its length, creating challenges for the construction of the track, roads and associated buildings. Extensive earthworks were needed to prepare the racing surfaces, alongside drainage infrastructure, an underpass and parking facilities.

The finished venue included a grandstand with a cantilevered roof over the spectator terraces, entrance and office facilities, bars, a weighing room and stable buildings beside the central parade ring. The layout was designed from the beginning as a complete racecourse rather than as an adaptation of an existing sporting venue.

The result was a modern facility with room to develop its racing, hospitality and event operations. Its location beside the M20 also improved road access for visitors travelling from Limerick city and other parts of Munster.

A new era for flat and National Hunt racing

Greenmount Park was designed to accommodate both flat racing and National Hunt racing, allowing Limerick to offer a diverse fixture programme. Flat racing takes place without obstacles and tests speed, stamina and tactical positioning. National Hunt racing involves hurdles or fences and places additional demands on jumping ability and endurance.

The flat and hurdle course is a right-handed oval measuring approximately one mile and three furlongs, according to published visitor information. The broader venue provides the facilities required for a variety of races and allows the programme to change with the seasons.

National Hunt racing has remained particularly important to the course’s identity. The Christmas Racing Festival is a major annual attraction, while the autumn calendar has traditionally included the Munster National, a demanding staying handicap chase. Other fixtures give developing horses opportunities to compete and progress through the sport.

The introduction of modern facilities also improved the experience for owners, trainers, jockeys and spectators. Dedicated stabling, a parade ring, a weighing room and improved viewing areas support the practical demands of professional racing, while restaurants and hospitality spaces make the venue more attractive to visitors.

The Limerick Christmas Racing Festival

One of the defining features of modern Limerick Racecourse is its Christmas Racing Festival, traditionally staged from 26 to 29 December. The meeting has developed into a major event in the Munster sporting calendar, attracting crowds during the festive holiday period.

The festival combines competitive National Hunt racing with a social atmosphere that appeals to local supporters and visitors from further afield. Its programme has featured high-profile novice hurdles and chases, including the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase, named after the outstanding racehorse who achieved major success in Irish and British jump racing.

Festive racing has a long-established place in Ireland’s sporting culture, and Limerick’s four-day programme provides an opportunity to enjoy the sport between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. The meeting also supports the wider local economy by attracting visitors who use nearby hotels, restaurants and other businesses.

Limerick Racecourse today

Today, Limerick Racecourse at Greenmount Park remains an established Irish racing venue, hosting a programme of flat and National Hunt meetings throughout the year. Its modern facilities include spectator stands, restaurants, bars, private suites, stable buildings and event spaces that support both racing and non-racing activities.

The racecourse has also developed a broader role as an events venue, hosting conferences, exhibitions and private functions outside the main racing programme. Its hospitality facilities allow it to welcome corporate groups and visitors celebrating special occasions, extending its contribution to the region beyond the race calendar.

Sustainability has become another area of focus, with the racecourse outlining its ambition to develop more environmentally responsible operations. Its published sustainability material describes ongoing work towards becoming Ireland’s green racecourse, reflecting the growing importance of environmental management across the sporting and events industries.

From its beginnings in 1790 to the opening of Greenmount Park in 2001, Limerick’s racing story reflects more than two centuries of sporting tradition. The move from Greenpark preserved the region’s racing heritage while creating a venue better suited to modern competition and spectators.

For visitors today, Limerick Races offers a connection to that history alongside the excitement of live sport. Whether attending the Christmas Festival, watching a staying chase or enjoying a summer flat meeting, racegoers can experience a venue shaped by generations of racing enthusiasts. The grandstands and facilities may be modern, but the central appeal remains timeless: talented horses, skilful jockeys, competitive racing and the hope that your chosen runner will cross the finish line first.