Tipperary Racecourse

About the course

Tipperary Racecourse is at Limerick Junction, about 2 miles from Tipperary town on the main Limerick to Waterford road (N24). It is owned by Horse Racing Ireland and stages both Flat and jumps racing. The course is left-handed and flat, one mile and two furlongs round, with a five-furlong sprint track that joins the main course at the start of the straight.

Racing at the present site began in September 1916. The course was known as Limerick Junction until it was renamed Tipperary in 1986.

Closed for all-weather development

Tipperary is currently closed while Horse Racing Ireland builds a new all-weather track, the second in Ireland. Work was due to start in early 2026 and finish by the end of the third quarter of 2027, and the racecourse says it is closed until October 2027. Horse Racing Ireland said it would move the course's fixtures to temporary venues while the work is carried out.

Once it reopens, the plan is to stage a full winter programme of all-weather Flat racing from the 2027/28 season, while keeping the existing turf jumps fixtures. The details below describe the course as it operated before the closure, so check the racecourse website for updates.

Big meetings and races

Before the closure, Tipperary raced from April to October and was busiest in summer, with a number of popular evening meetings. Its biggest day was Super Sunday, usually held on the first Sunday of October. It was the only meeting to stage Graded jumps races and a Group race on the Flat on the same card, and it drew the largest crowd of the year.

Notable races at the course include the Group 3 Fairy Bridge Stakes and Concorde Stakes on the Flat, the Grade 2 Tipperary Hurdle, the Grade 3 Joe Mac Novice Hurdle and the Grade 3 Like A Butterfly Novice Chase.

Getting there

• By road: the course is on the N24, about 29km from Cashel, 30km from Limerick, 87km from Cork and 183km from Dublin.
• By rail: Tipperary is the only racecourse in Ireland next to a railway station. Limerick Junction station is about a five-minute walk from the track.
• By bus: check Bus Éireann for routes and times.
• By air: Shannon is the nearest airport.

Facilities and tips for visitors

Car parking has been free, with ample space on site and a limited number of disabled spaces near the main entrance. The gates usually opened about an hour and a half before the first race, and earlier on bigger days. There is free Wi-Fi, and food and drink are sold around the enclosure, though you cannot bring your own.

For accessibility, the course has an accessible entrance and toilets, and the Istabraq Bar, the self-service restaurant and the betting facilities are all on the ground floor. There is a wheelchair viewing area in front of the parade ring. The High Chaparral restaurant and the Members Bar do not have disabled access.

When racing returns, our guide to your first day at the races covers what to expect.

Nearby places to stay

Tipperary town is closest, and there is accommodation right beside the racecourse. Further afield, the racecourse suggests places to stay in Adare in Co. Limerick, about 40 minutes away, and Clonmel, under 50 minutes away. Limerick city is about 30km from the course.

Nearby racecourses include Limerick, Thurles and Clonmel.