Clonmel Racecourse Guide

Clonmel Racecourse sits 2kms outside the town itself in County Tipperary and is one of Ireland’s premiere winter jumping tracks. The racecourse attracts a host of top class chasers ever year because of its stiff uphill and undulating track, and it is known for its large crowds and great atmosphere on a cool winter evening.

Racing at the venue has taken place for 150 years and the course has become so popular that it can play host to in excess of 120 runners at any given meeting. The course itself went under major renovations in 2009 and now has some of the best patron facilities in the country. The track is located less than a mile from both the bus and train stations in Clonmel and is only 55 miles from the nearest major city and airport in Cork.

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The Course

Clonmel is a right handed oval track, measuring a mile and a quarter in length, which is recognised throughout the country as one of the stiffest tests in the business. The demanding National Hunt circuit contains a stiff uphill climb, followed by a gradual downhill run into another uphill surge to the finish line. As previously mentioned, this natural test attracts a large number of top trainers to the course, bringing with them some great novice and experienced chasers.

Fences are seven to a circuit with a long run from the back of the third last to the final two obstacles in the home straight. After the final jump there’s a short run-in of just 150 yards so it is crucial to be well-placed approaching the last.

There’s a similarly slender run for home on the hurdles course, which features six flights. Clonmel’s unique layout ensures that you see a fair share of courses specialists who end up performing here on a regular basis. As a jockey, it provides a tricky tactical test to get your horse round with enough left in the tank at the finish.

As a slight aside, it isn’t just horses that do the business in this corner of south east Ireland, as Clonmel also plays host to the National Hare Coursing festival that takes place on the track each February and attracts over 30,000 spectators over the three-day festival.

SPRINTERS MUST LOOK ELSEWHERE

Clonmel simply doesn’t do short distance races. The minimum trip on the County Tipperary course is 1m 2f and this combined with a maximum trip of 2m gives it quite a limited flat racing offering. One consequence of this is that there’s been no research into any draw bias at Clonmel.

You’d usually never expect to see any in races as long as 1m2f or 1m4f but there are those that believe a low draw is of some benefit. By starting close to the rail, jockeys are best positioned to save some ground as they take on the long turn around the top of the hill. There’s likely some truth in this but it won’t be significant enough that it should factor into your thinking when placing your bets.

Major Meetings at Clonmel

Clonmel keeps County Tipperary racegoers entertained with 12 meetings per year. A dual-purpose venue, the track stages at least one fixture per month between September and June, before taking a short break in July and August. While hosting both Flat and National Hunt events, Clonmel is best known for its classy jumping action.

Clonmel Oil Chase

The biggest meeting of the year comes in November, with the annual edition of the Clonmel Oil Chase. In common with the majority of Clonmel meetings, this 2m4f contest takes place on a Thursday. First run in 1992 and promoted to Grade 2 status in 1996, the race boasts a star-studded roll of honour.

The Michael Hourigan legend Doran’s Pride won four successive editions between 1997 and 2000, while Imperial Call (1995) and War Of Attrition (2005) both went on to claim the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Sizing Europe, Champagne Fever, and Douvan are other notable winners of the race that puts Clonmel on the map.

T.A. Morris Memorial Mares Chase

The Listed class T.A. Morris Memorial Mares Chase heads the Clonmel Chase Day undercard. Held over the same course and distance as the Clonmel Oil Chase, the race features the names of Cheltenham Festival heroines Shattered Love and Vroum Vroum Mag on the list of previous winners.

Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle

Clonmel’s second Graded contest lights up a Friday afternoon fixture in February. Run over a stamina-sapping 3m trip, the Grade 3 Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle regularly attracts runners from the leading yards. Standout winners include Don Poli (2014) and Allaho (2019), who both went on to score twice at the Cheltenham Festival.

Dining and Hospitality

There are three bars located on track. The T.A Morris bar under the grandstand, the Club Stand bar, which contains the best viewing facilities, and the Supporters Bar that overlooks the winning line. Dinners, sandwiches, and pastries are provided in the restaurant under the club stand, while there is a snack bar beside the parade ring that contains fast food, soup, sandwiches, and sweets.

Group facilities include a private room in the lower grandstand which seats up to 150 people called the Sponsors Room. The room has a viewing balcony that seats up to 30, and for smaller groups, tables can be reserved in the Club Stand Bar upon request.