Irish group 3 races are fiercely run horse racing events by some of the best racehorses in Ireland.

Irish Group 3 horse races are two tiers off the highest-rated Irish horse races in Ireland’s Racing Calendar. The group three horse racing events are a test of class with all thoroughbreds running off level weights unless receiving weight allowance for a 3yo racing against older horses or carrying a penalty for previous success.

The trainers and top-rated horse racing jockeys fight out in group three races throughout the year in Ireland.

In our Irish group three horse racing guide, we will list everything you need to know about the biggest and best group 3 horse races in Ireland.

What does Group 3 mean in horse racing?

The term Group 3 in horse racing is used for the third-highest tier of horse races in the world.

While they are not considered as important as the Group 1 or Group 2 races, Group 3 races are also rated as top-class events.

The best horse racing thoroughbreds need to achieve an official rating of 105 plus to compete in the quality group three races.

International contenders compete in the competitive Irish group three races to try and get their black-type status.

All Irish Group Three Horse Races

Here is a list of all the group 3 races in Ireland:

Race Name	Racecourse	Distance	Age	Month
Park Express Stakes	Curragh	1m	3yo+ f	March
Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes	Leopardstown	7f	3yo f	March
Ballysax Stakes	Leopardstown	1m 2f	3yo	April
Alleged Stakes	Curragh	1m 2f	4yo+	April
Gladness Stakes	Curragh	7f	4yo+	April
Vintage Crop Stakes	Navan	1m 6f	3yo+	April
Athasi Stakes	Curragh	7f	3yo+ f	May
Blue Wind Stakes	Naas	1m 2f	3yo+ f	May
Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial	Leopardstown	1m	3yo f	May
Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial	Leopardstown	1m 2f	3yo	May
Amethyst Stakes	Leopardstown	1m	3yo+	May
Lacken Stakes	Naas	6f	3yo	May
Fillies’ Sprint Stakes	Naas	6f	2yo f	May
Greenlands Stakes	Curragh	6f	3yo+	May
Gallinule Stakes	Curragh	1m 2f	3yo	May
Ballyogan Stakes	Curragh	6f	3yo+ f	June
Munster Oaks	Cork	1m 4f	3yo+ f	June
Ballycorus Stakes	Leopardstown	7f	3yo+	May
International Stakes	Curragh	1m 2f	3yo+	June
Brownstown Stakes	Fairyhouse	7f	3yo+ f	June
Stannera Stakes	Leopardstown	1m 6f	3yo+ f	July
Silver Flash Stakes	Leopardstown	7f	2yo f	July
Anglesey Stakes	Curragh	6f 63y	2yo	July
Tyros Stakes	Leopardstown	7f	2yo	July
Meld Stakes	Leopardstown	1m 1f	3yo+	July
Give Thanks Stakes	Cork	1m 4f	3yo+ f	July
Ballyroan Stakes	Leopardstown	1m 4f	3yo+	August
Phoenix Sprint Stakes	Curragh	6f	3yo+	August
Desmond Stakes	Leopardstown	1m	3yo+	August
Fairy Bridge Stakes	Tipperary	7f 100y	3yo+ f	August
Royal Whip Stakes	Curragh	1m 2f	3yo+	August
Irish St Leger Trial Stakes	Curragh	1m 6f	3yo+	August
Flame Of Tara Stakes	Curragh	1m	2yo f	August
Round Tower Stakes	Curragh	6f	2yo	August
Dance Design Stakes	Curragh	1m 1f	3yo+ f	August
Juvenile Turf Stakes	Leopardstown	1m	2yo	September
KPMG Enterprise Stakes	Leopardstown	1m 2f	3yo+	September
Denny Cordell Lavarack Fillies Stakes	Gowran Park	1m 1f 100y	3yo+ f	September
Loughbrown Stakes	Curragh	2m	3yo+	September
Weld Park Stakes	Curragh	7f	2yo f	September
Renaissance Stakes	Curragh	6f	3yo+	September
Diamond Stakes	Dundalk	1m 2f 150y	3yo+	September
Concorde Stakes	Tipperary	7f 100y	3yo+	October
Killavullan Stakes	Leopardstown	7f	2yo	October
Eyrefield Stakes	Leopardstown	1m 1f	2yo	October

Guide To All Irish Group Three Horse Races

Here is a guide to all the Group Three Races in Ireland:

Park Express Stakes

The Park Express Stakes is a Group Three horse race run at Curragh Racecourse over a 1-mile distance taking place at the start of the Flat season in March. The race is open to horses aged three years old and older and attracts a competitive field looking to win the first major Group Three prize.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Park Express Stakes Group 3 racing event in Ireland.

Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes

The Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat event for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies.

In March or April, it is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) at Leopardstown.

Ballysax Stakes

The Ballysax Stakes is a three-year-old thoroughbred flat horse event held in Ireland.

In April, it is run over a distance of one mile and two furlongs at Leopardstown.

Alleged Stakes

The Alleged Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse event held in Ireland for thoroughbred horses aged four and over.

In April, it is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs. In 2003, the event was held for the first time.

Gladness Stakes

The Gladness Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event available to horses aged three and up.

It is held at the Curragh in April and is run over a distance of 7 furlongs.

Vintage Crop Stakes

The Vintage Crop Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse event held in Ireland for thoroughbred horses aged four and higher. It is held each year in April at Navan over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs.

In 2003, the race was first run as a Listed event.

Athasi Stakes

The Athasi Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse event in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies and mares.

It takes place at the Curragh in early May over a distance of 7 furlongs.

Blue Wind Stakes

The Blue Wind Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older.

It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs at Naas in May.

Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial

The Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. In May, it is held over a distance of one mile (1,609 metres) at Leopardstown.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial Group 3 race in Ireland.

Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial

The Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial is a three-year-old thoroughbred flat horse race held in Ireland.

It is held at Leopardstown in May and is run over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs.

Amethyst Stakes

The Amethyst Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for thoroughbreds aged three and up.

In May, it is run over a mile course at Leopardstown.

Lacken Stakes

The Lacken Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse event in Ireland that is only open to three-year-old horses. It is held every year in late May or early June at Naas over a distance of 6 furlongs.

The event was first conducted in 2014 as a Listed competition. In 2015, it was placed in Group 3.

Fillies’ Sprint Stakes

The Fillies’ Sprint Stakes in Ireland is a Group 3 flat horse event for two-year-old thoroughbred fillies.

It takes place each year in May or June at Naas over a distance of 6 furlongs.

Greenlands Stakes

The Greenlands Stakes is an Irish Group 2 flat horse event for thoroughbreds aged four and up.

It takes held every year in May at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs.

Gallinule Stakes

The Gallinule Stakes is a three-year-old thoroughbred flat horse event held in Ireland.

It takes place at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs and is held every year in May.

Ballyogan Stakes

The Ballyogan Stakes is a Group 3 horse event in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies and mares.

It takes held every year in June at The Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs.

Munster Oaks

The Munster Oaks is a Group 3 flat race in Ireland open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older.

It is run at Cork over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs, and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.

Ballycorus Stakes

The Ballycorus Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for thoroughbreds aged three and up.

It is held every year in mid-June at Leopardstown over a distance of 7 furlongs.

International Stakes

The International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse event held in the United Kingdom for horses aged three and over.

It takes place every year in August and is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs, and 56 yards at York.

Brownstown Stakes

The Brownstown Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse event in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies and mares.

It takes place at Fairyhouse over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) and is held every year in late June or early July.

Stannera Stakes

The Stannera Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse event held in Ireland for three-year-old fillies and mares.

It is held every year in July at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs (2,816 metres).

Silver Flash Stakes

The Silver Flash Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race for two-year-old thoroughbred fillies held in Ireland.

It takes place every year in July at Leopardstown over a distance of 7 furlongs.

Anglesey Stakes

The Anglesey Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for two-year-old thoroughbreds.

It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs and 63 yards and takes place every year in July.

Tyros Stakes

The Tyros Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for two-year-old thoroughbreds. Every year in July, it is held at Leopardstown over a distance of seven furlongs.

Previously, the tournament was held in mid-August in the Curragh.

Meld Stakes

The Meld Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse event held in Ireland for thoroughbred horses aged three and over.

It is held every year in July at Leopardstown over a course of 1 mile and 1 furlong.

Give Thanks Stakes

The Give Thanks Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse event in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies and mares.

It takes place at Cork Racecourse over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs and is held every year in late July or early August.

Ballyroan Stakes

The Ballyroan Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event available to horses aged three and up.

It is held every year in August at Leopardstown over a course of 1 mile and 4 furlongs.

Phoenix Sprint Stakes

The Phoenix Sprint Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for thoroughbreds aged three and up.

It takes held every year in August at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs.

Desmond Stakes

The Desmond Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for thoroughbreds aged three and up.

It is held every year in August at Leopardstown over a distance of one mile.

Fairy Bridge Stakes

The Fairy Bridge Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older.

It is run at Tipperary over a distance of 7 furlongs and 100 yards, and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.

Royal Whip Stakes

The Royal Whip Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for thoroughbreds aged three and up.

In August, it is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs.

Irish St Leger Trial Stakes

The Irish St Leger Trial Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse event held in Ireland for thoroughbred horses aged three and higher.

It is held at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs and takes place every year in August.

Flame Of Tara Stakes

The Flame Of Tara Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat event for two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It takes place every year in late August or early September in the Curragh over a distance of one mile.

For more information, check out our full guide to the Flame Of Tara Stakes Group 3 horse event in Ireland.

Round Tower Stakes

The Round Tower Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse competition for two-year-old thoroughbreds.

The race is held every year in late August or early September at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs.

Dance Design Stakes

The Dance Design Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse event in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies and mares.

It is held in the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 1 furlong (1,811 metres) and is held in late August or early September each year.

Juvenile Turf Stakes

The Juvenile Stakes in Ireland is a Group 3 flat horse event for two-year-old thoroughbreds.

It is held at Leopardstown in September and is a one-mile race.

KPMG Enterprise Stakes

The KPMG Enterprise Stakes is a group three-horse event in Ireland for horses aged three and older.

The race is scheduled to take place in September at the Leopardstown racecourse.

Denny Cordell Lavarack Fillies Stakes

The Denny Cordell Lavarack Fillies Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse event held in Ireland for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies and mares.

It is held each year in late September at Gowran Park over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong, and 100 yards (1,902 metres).

Loughbrown Stakes

The Loughbrown Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for thoroughbreds aged three and up. It is held every year in September at the Curragh over a distance of 2 miles (3,219 metres).

The event was first conducted as a Listed race in 2013.

Weld Park Stakes

The Weld Park Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for two-year-old thoroughbred fillies.

It is held annually in September or October at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs.

Renaissance Stakes

The Renaissance Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for thoroughbreds aged three and up.

It is held every year in September at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres).

Diamond Stakes

The Diamond Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for thoroughbreds aged three and up.

It is held every year in September or October at Dundalk over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs, and 150 yards (2,149 metres).

Concorde Stakes

The Concorde Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for thoroughbreds aged three and up. It is held every year in early October at Tipperary over a distance of 7 furlongs and 100 yards (1,500 metres).

For more information, check out our full guide to the Concorde Stakes Group 3 horse racing in Ireland.

Killavullan Stakes

The Killavullan Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for two-year-old thoroughbreds.

It is held at Leopardstown over a distance of 7 furlongs and takes place every year in late October.

Eyrefield Stakes

The Eyrefield Stakes is an Irish Group 3 flat horse event for two-year-old thoroughbreds.

It takes held every year in October or November at Leopardstown over a course of 1 mile and 1 furlong.

Summary

The Irish group 3 flat races are run over various distances varying from 5 furlongs up to 2-mile events.

Punters enjoy placing bets on the Irish Group Three events because it is some of the top-rated racehorses in the world battling it out.

Other competitive horse racing betting events you might be interested in are:

Some Irish group three flat horse racing events are for specific age groups and weight allowance can be applied if 3yo horses are running against older.

In group three events fillies can also receive a weight allowance when running against colts or geldings.

And something to bear in mind is if you win a previous group 3 race you can carry a weight penalty if competing in another group two event.

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