About the course
Bellewstown sits on a hilltop in County Meath, overlooking the Boyne Valley, about 37km from Dublin city centre and 11km south of Drogheda. On a clear evening the views stretch to the Mountains of Mourne to the north and the Irish Sea to the east, which is a large part of the appeal.
It is one of the oldest racing venues in Ireland. The first record of racing here appears in the August 1726 editions of the Dublin Gazette and the Weekly Courier, and the racecourse marks its 300th anniversary in 2026.
The track is a left-handed course of one mile and one furlong, with the Hill of Crockafotha providing an uphill finish. It stages flat and hurdle racing, so you will see both types on many cards. When the horses are not running, the tarmac track that circles the course has become a popular spot for walkers.
Big meetings and races
Bellewstown does not have a single headline race so much as a handful of well-loved meetings. Racing is spread over a small number of fixtures a year, usually in April, July and August with a final meeting in the autumn. The official site lists nine days of racing, while Horse Racing Ireland counts eight fixtures, so check the current fixture list before you plan.
The July Festival is the one that draws the biggest crowds, and meetings here are known for their evening racing on long summer nights. The racecourse also runs themed extras such as a Best Dressed Competition and a country music evening.
If you are new to racing, Bellewstown is a gentle place to start. Our first day at the races guide covers the basics.
Getting there
- By road: take the M1 to Exit 7 (Julianstown/Drogheda South) and join the R132 towards Drogheda. After passing the service station at Gormanstown, take the immediate left for Bellewstown and follow the local signs. The Eircode is A92 EC82.
- By rail: the nearest main station is Drogheda on the Irish Rail network, and Gormanstown station is also close. Local taxi firms are listed on the racecourse website for the last leg.
- By bus: Horse Racing Ireland notes a bus service from Drogheda. Check Bus Éireann for current times.
Facilities and tips for visitors
- Parking: free, with stewards directing you on arrival.
- Gates: usually open 90 minutes before the first race.
- Dress: there is no dress code. The racecourse suggests smart casual.
- Food and drink: there are food and drink outlets around the course, plus hospitality packages if you want a table.
- Picnics: a picnic on the hill is a long-standing Bellewstown tradition, and the racecourse promotes it as part of the day.
- Tickets: you can buy online or at the gate.
Nearby places to stay
Drogheda, 11km to the north, is the nearest large town and has the widest choice of places to stay. The villages along the east coast around Gormanstown and Julianstown are handy for the M1. Dublin, about 37km away, also works as a base if you are driving, and puts you close to other courses such as Laytown and Navan.
Latest results: Thursday, 1 October
13:00Racing TV Nursery Handicap1m · Flat · 2yo · Soft To HeavyWon by Sister Nancy
| Pos | Horse | Wgt | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sister Nancy h Daniel McLoughlin | 9-6 | Ben Coen |
| 2nd | Cromane Joseph G Murphy | 10-2 | G. F. Carroll |
| 3rd | Dropping Dimes Jarlath P Fahey | 8-7 | Rory Cleary |
| 4th | Green Sparkle Joseph Patrick O'Brien | 9-6 | J M Sheridan |
| 5th | Violet Be Humble tp Sean Davis | 9-7 | Reese Holohan |
13:35Bellewstown Inn Fillies Maiden1m · Flat · 3yo+ · Soft To HeavyWon by White Sand Beach
| Pos | Horse | Wgt | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | White Sand Beach b Aidan O'Brien | 8-12 | Jack Cleary |
| 2nd | Xirivella Noel Meade | 9-3 | Siobhan Rutledge |
| 3rd | Tax Me Later Kevin Thomas Coleman | 8-12 | Reese Holohan |
| 4th | Almost Okay t Jarlath P Fahey | 9-3 | Nathan Crosse |
| 5th | Valerie O Nigel Thomas Slevin | 9-3 | James Ryan |
14:10Bluegrass Horse Feed Handicap1m · Flat · 3yo · Soft To HeavyWon by Big Bill
| Pos | Horse | Wgt | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Big Bill p Aidan Melia | 9-7 | Reese Holohan |
| 2nd | Arizona Star Michael Mulvany | 8-10 | Wesley Joyce |
| 3rd | Glasarmi Rory Anthony Devine | 9-8 | Rory Mulligan |
| 4th | Matties Point W. McCreery | 9-8 | W. J. Lee |
| 5th | Spiritofthedawn t F G Hand | 9-4 | Robert Whearty |
| 6th | Nephin Mountain Michael Mulvany | 10-0 | G. F. Carroll |
| 7th | Glen Breeze tp Patrick Magee | 9-5 | Ben Coen |
| 8th | Thumama Sands Adrian McGuinness | 8-7 | Patrick McGettigan |
| 9th | Stonyfalls Paul Traynor | 8-10 | Nicola Burns |
14:45Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap1m · Flat · 3yo+ · Soft To HeavyWon by Duchess Of Kenli
| Pos | Horse | Wgt | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Duchess Of Kenli Joseph Patrick O'Brien | 9-8 | Julian Pietropaolo |
| 2nd | Excuzio Joe Matthew J Smith | 9-7 | Robbie Colgan |
| 3rd | Tachos tp D K Weld | 9-0 | Reese Holohan |
| 4th | Save The Sixes Mrs J. Harrington | 9-9 | W. J. Lee |
| 5th | Aquilla Star John McConnell | 9-0 | Siobhan Rutledge |
15:20Johnny Kierans Memorial Handicap5f · Flat · 3yo+ · Soft To HeavyWon by One Cool Bear
| Pos | Horse | Wgt | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | One Cool Bear b Adrian McGuinness | 9-9 | Adam Caffrey |
| 2nd | Ballysax Lil' Mick p Miss Katy Brown | 8-13 | Wesley Joyce |
| 3rd | Star Allure tp Ms Claire O'Connell | 8-11 | Siobhan Rutledge |
| 4th | Steel Magnolia v W. McCreery | 9-12 | W. J. Lee |
| 5th | El Fontenaro Jarlath P Fahey | 9-9 | Reese Holohan |
| 6th | Dandy Land v W. McCreery | 9-9 | Sam Coen |
| 7th | Banish Misfortune Gerard Kyne | 9-9 | Donagh O'Connor |
| 8th | Gold Inn G A Kingston | 9-2 | Rory Mulligan |
| 9th | Smart Sioux t Ms Claire O'Connell | 9-5 | Rory Cleary |
15:55Kilsaran Race1m 4½f · Flat · 3yo+ · Soft To HeavyWon by Magnum Cor
| Pos | Horse | Wgt | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Magnum Cor Joseph Patrick O'Brien | 9-10 | J M Sheridan |
| 2nd | Abbotsford D K Weld | 9-10 | W. J. Lee |
| 3rd | Narlita (GER) p H Rogers | 9-4 | Conor Cusack |
16:30BOYLE Sports Handicap (Div I)1m 4½f · Flat · 3yo+ · Soft To HeavyWon by Maxwell Smart
| Pos | Horse | Wgt | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Maxwell Smart p T G McCourt | 9-6 | James Ryan |
| 2nd | Anightaway tp Sean Davis | 9-2 | Jimmy Dalton |
| 3rd | Lily Parr Ms Sheila Lavery | 10-2 | Robbie Colgan |
| 4th | Searcog t Patrick Magee | 9-0 | Reese Holohan |
| 5th | Kartayaz G A Kingston | 8-0 | Zoe McMullan |
| 6th | Sir Trancealot J. P. Murtagh | 9-5 | Ben Coen |
| 7th | Money Shuffler b W M Roper | 8-11 | Wesley Joyce |
| 8th | Annacroft John McConnell | 8-10 | Siobhan Rutledge |
| 9th | Haughty V C Ward | 8-5 | Jack Cleary |
| 10th | One For Teigan P Sweeney | 8-13 | Luke McAteer |
| 11th | Courtlough Gula P Cluskey | 8-3 | Megan de Souza-Wearen |
17:05BOYLE Sports Handicap (Div II)1m 4½f · Flat · 3yo+ · Soft To HeavyWon by Autocrat
| Pos | Horse | Wgt | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Autocrat tv P Sweeney | 8-10 | Luke McAteer |
| 2nd | Among The Pines Kieran Callaghan | 9-3 | Rory Mulligan |
| 3rd | Tintinabulla t Ms Sheila Lavery | 8-11 | Siobhan Rutledge |
| 4th | Acanto b Noel Meade | 9-10 | Adam Caffrey |
| 5th | You Make Me Smile v P A Fahy | 9-11 | Darragh Keenan |
| 6th | Grey Fable t Karl Thornton | 10-1 | Ben Coen |
| 7th | Deuteronomy R P Burns | 9-1 | Nicola Burns |
| 8th | Secret Rock Cian Collins | 10-0 | W. J. Lee |
| 9th | Club Manager p Ross O'Sullivan | 9-7 | Shane Markey |
| 10th | Zesty Belle t M O Quigley | 9-11 | J M Sheridan |
| 11th | Princess Rosie P Cluskey | 8-11 | Robert Whearty |
Latest highlights
Highlights from Horse Racing Ireland on YouTube. Full race replays are on Racing TV.
Questions people ask
Is there a dress code at Bellewstown?
No. The racecourse has no dress code and recommends smart casual.
What kind of racing is held at Bellewstown?
Flat and hurdle racing on a left-handed course of one mile and one furlong, with an uphill finish.
How early should I arrive at Bellewstown?
Gates usually open 90 minutes before the first race, and parking is free, so arriving an hour or so before the first gives you time to settle in.
Sources
- Bellewstown Racecourse home page
- Bellewstown Racecourse: About us
- Bellewstown Racecourse: Plan your visit
- Bellewstown Racecourse: FAQ
- Horse Racing Ireland: Bellewstown Racecourse
- AIR: Bellewstown
Last reviewed 30 September 2026. Dates and details change, so check with the racecourse before you travel.