Ballinrobe Racecourse

About the course

Ballinrobe is the only racecourse in County Mayo and sits just outside the town of Ballinrobe on the N84, the main road to Castlebar. It is a country track in the best sense: a natural amphitheatre with views towards Lough Carra, Lough Mask, Lough Corrib and the Partry Mountains, and a slightly elevated right-handed circuit that gives a clear view of the racing from the stands.

Racing in and around Ballinrobe goes back a long way. The racecourse records meetings in the town as far back as 1774, and racing has been held at the present site since 1921, which meant the course marked its centenary in 2021. Horse Racing Ireland named Ballinrobe its Racecourse of the Year for 2023, and the course had earlier won a Racecourse of the Year award in 2012 from the Irish Racegoers Consultative Forum.

The track hosts both flat and jump racing across ten meetings a year, running from April to September. Some well-known jumpers began their careers here. Doran's Pride and Traverse both made their racing debuts at Ballinrobe, and Tiger Roll won his first steeplechase at the course in May 2016. That race now carries his name as the McHale Tiger Roll Beginners' Chase.

Big meetings and races

The highlight of the year is the McHale race day, usually held in late May, which features the McHale Mayo National and the McHale Mayo Hurdle. Horse Racing Ireland lists the Mayo National as a €100,000 race.

Other fixtures to look out for include a Ladies Day and a two-day July Festival, which the racecourse promotes as part of its summer programme. With ten meetings between spring and early autumn, there is usually a date to suit a holiday in the west. If it is your first time racing, our first day at the races guide explains what to expect.

Getting there

• By road: the course is about 50km north of Galway and 28km south of Castlebar on the N84, and about 2km outside Ballinrobe town. Horse Racing Ireland puts it at around 50 minutes' drive from Galway and just under three hours from Dublin. The Eircode is F31 E677.
• By rail: the nearest station is Claremorris, about 21km away, on the Irish Rail Dublin to Westport line. You will need a taxi or a lift for the last leg.
• By air: Ireland West Airport Knock is about 48km away, with regular flights from the UK.

Taxis can drop off and collect directly at the main entrance.

Facilities and tips for visitors

Parking is free, both on the racecourse grounds and across the road. The racecourse advises leaving plenty of time to arrive.

• Shelter: the enclosed Mask Pavilion has seating, bars and Tote betting, which is useful on a wet day in Mayo.
• Food: the Corrib Restaurant is self-service with hot dinners, desserts and sandwiches, and a Coffee Dock serves drinks and snacks. The Coranna Restaurant offers a four-course meal with reserved seating as a hospitality option.
• Bars: the Chase and Hurdle Bars sit inside the Mask Pavilion, and the Pavilion Bar has live music after racing.
• Betting: Tote facilities are available around the course.
• Children: there is a playground with a slide, climbing frame and a horse springer.

Nearby places to stay

Ballinrobe town is the closest base, and Castlebar and Claremorris are both within half an hour or so by road. Galway city, around 50 minutes away, makes a good option if you want to combine a race meeting with a longer trip along the west coast. The lakes and villages around Lough Mask and Lough Corrib are also worth considering for a quieter stay.