Listowel Racecourse

Welcome to our official guide to Listowel Racecourse.

Sitting just south of the town of Listowel in County Kerry, south-west Ireland, Listowel Racecourse has been in its present location for over 150 years and plays home to some of the biggest races in the Irish racing calendar.

We explore this Irish racecourse in detail, looking at its history, a guide to the track, hotel picks, fixtures, travel information, betting guides and even the weather.

Find out more about Listowel Racecourse:

Listowel Races

Overview of Listowel Races

Listowel Racecourse is one of the most attended and popular racecourses in the whole of Ireland, with as much a focus on the horses as the fun and atmosphere to be enjoyed.

The course hosts both flat and National Hunt racing. It only holds nine meets a year so isn’t a busy course but does draw big crowds when it is open. It also hosts conferences and other private events.

Listowel Racecourse has benefitted from a hoard of investment in its visitor’s facilities over the years and now boasts several hospitality suites, a restaurant and multiple bars.

Listowel enjoys a reputation as a friendly and fun course and so despite its rural location is often the first course many racing newbies ever attend.

Listowel Racecourse History

Racing at Listowel can be traced back to an annual gathering in the 1800s held at Ballyeigh, around 9 miles from the current venue.  This event included horseracing, boxing and other sporting games and the most documented instance was at Ballyeigh Strand in June 1834 on the Feast Day of St John the Baptist. This day is so well recorded because it ended in tragedy. Over 3,000 people ended up rioting, over 200 lay dead. As a result, all racing was suspended at Ballyeigh and transferred to nearby Listowel, where it first took place in 1858.

A full history of Listowel Races is available in book form and is a popular read with tourists who are visiting the town.

Main Races and Events at Listowel

The biggest event in the calendar at Listowel Racecourse is Ladies Day, which sells out every year. The Best Dressed competition is one of the most hotly contested at any racecourse and so the occasion attracts both those who want to showcase their outfits alongside those with a keen interest in fashion and couture. The day is so popular that it wasn’t even cancelled during the coronavirus lockdown like everywhere else – and instead, it shifted online! Ladies Day is held on the Friday of the week-long Harvest Festival meet every year.

The Harvest Festival began as a two-day meeting but demand for tickets resulted in it being extended to the seven-day format it enjoys today.

The racing highlight of the festival is the Kerry National, a highly valuable handicap chase run previously by Alamshar.

Listowel Racecourse Map

There are two courses at Listowel, the flat and jumps course.

Listowel Flat Track

The track at Listowel Racecourse is left-handed, flat and rectangular, measuring just over a mile with a run-in of 2 furlongs.

When it is firmer, a low draw helps and pace can be hugely important on the flat course.

Listowel Jumps Track

There are 5 hurdles and 6 fences on the National Hunt circuit, and it is considered a tight track.

It rides best when soft, but can get very heavy; at which point it takes an awful lot of getting.

Listowel Jumps Track

Listowel Racecourse 2023 Fixtures

Listed below are the dates for the 2023 fixtures at Listowel Racecourse:

  • Sat, 3rd June, 2023
  • Sun, 4th June, 2023
  • Mon, 5th June, 2023
  • Sun, 17th September, 2023
  • Mon, 18th September, 2023
  • Tue, 19th September, 2023
  • Wed, 20th September, 2023
  • Thu, 21st September, 2023
  • Fri, 22nd September, 2023
  • Sat, 23rd September, 2023

Find out more information on the Irish horse racing fixtures calendar 2023.

Listowel Racecourse Address

The official address of Listowel Racecourse is:

Listowel Racecourse
Tralee Road
County Kerry
Ireland

How To Get To Listowel Racecourse

The ways to get Listowel Races are:

  • By road – Listowel Racecourse is in a rural location but there are several travel options available. Just a kilometre south of the town of Listowel on the N69 road, it is driveable from Dublin (in just over 3 hours), Sligo (in about 4 hours), Cork (in less than 2 hours) and Galway (in about 3 hours).
  • By bus – there is a daily bus service from Tralee that serves Listowel Racecourse but there are no special services for events so travel times must be judged on the standard timetable.
  • By train – Listowel itself is not served by a train station, but the nearest is Casement at Tralee; about a half an hour car ride away.
  • By air – The nearest airport is Kerry Airport, which is served internationally and is another half an hour drive away from the racecourse.

Hotels near Listowel Racecourse

Listowel is fairly rural and so there aren’t lots of accommodation options close to the racecourse, but there are some.

In the town itself, the Listowel Arms Hotel is the most premium option at around £120 a night, followed by the Behan’s Horseshoe Bar rooms at around £100 and then the Carriglea B&B at around £77 a night. There are some Airbnb and independent holiday rentals in Listowel, but these are primarily quite small and so not always suitable for large groups or families.

More hotels can be found half an hour down the road in Tralee, but there is a country hall hotel in Ballybunion and a glamping site in Ballyduff; both within quick driving distance.

We often recommend booking via Booking.com, who have some great rates – check them out below: 
Booking.com

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Betting Shops Local to Listowel Racecourse

Listowel is a rural location and so betting in person rather than online and relying on a mobile signal or readily available Wi-Fi is encouraged. There is no free Wi-Fi available at the racecourse itself, but guests in conferencing and hospitality suites can often access these services if they ask.

Listowel Racecourse has its own bookies branch and independent bookmakers that can be found outside of the main grandstand in the Betting Ring. As with most racecourses, the indie bookmakers are where the most competitive odds are usually offered.

The town of Listowel has a branch of Ladbrokes Horse Racing and one of BoyleSports Horse Racing both in the centre, as well as independent bookmakers Brownes.

There are more branches of bookies in Tralee but the variety of chains is not much improved to that on offer in Listowel and so in most cases, it’s not worth travelling to place a bet.

Best Listowel Betting Sites

At British Racecourses, we often recommend betting online and via horse racing betting apps. This is because you can often get the best odds, great offers when signing up and you can place bets quickly and safely without having to queue.

If you are looking to bet online we recommend the following great deals for new customers:

  • Tote Horse Racing

    Tote logo white
    BET £5 GET £20
    With updated new betting promotions like the Tote Plus and Tote’s SP Guarantee, it is no surprise that shrewd horse racing fans have voted Tote to be the number one horse racing betting site

    New customers online only. £/€5 min stake. Receive £/€20 Tote Credit when first bet settles. £/€10 redeemable against racing bets and £/€10 redeemable against racing bets excl. Win/Place. 7 day expiry. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the betslip. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleaware.org.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Sky Bet Horse Racing

    Sky Bet Logo
    BET 5 GET 30 FREE
    Check out Sky Bet today who have a current Bet £5 and Get £30 offer – could they be a new bookmaker for you?

    NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY. 5P MINIMUM STAKE. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS EXCLUDE VIRTUALS. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. NO FREE BET EXPIRY. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+. BEGAMBLEAWARE.ORG

    Full T&C's Apply

  • bet365 Horse Racing

    Bet365 Horse Racing
    BET £10 GET £30 IN FREE BETS
    Voted the best horse racing website and app by our followers for the past 2 years.

    Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365.
    Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • BetUK Horse Racing

    BetUK logo
    BET £10 GET £30
    Bet UK is a great sports betting brand with a plethora of online betting markets for hundreds of horse racing events.

    New customers, Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. Stake not returned.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Betfred Horse Racing

    Betfred Horse Racing
    BET £10 GET £40 IN FREE BETS
    Great bonuses, odds, deals and customer service make them one of the leading horse betting sites year after year.

    New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • BetVictor Horse Racing

    Betvictor Horse Racing
    BET £10 GET £40
    Punters love the BetVictor betting site rating it one of the top horse racing betting sites for a whole range of reasons, including BOG, live streaming, tips and more.

    18+ New customers only. Opt in and place a £10 qualifying bet on Horse Racing at odds of 2.00+ within 7 days of registering; excludes cashed out bets. Receive 3x £10 Horse Racing Free Bets, valid on set events only at odds 2.00+. Plus, a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, wager 20x to withdraw a max of £250. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments only. Please Gamble Responsibly.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • William Hill Horse Racing

    William Hill Horse Racing Logo
    BET £10 GET £30 IN FREE BETS
    One of the best horse racing bookies in the UK. William Hill are one of our favourites here at British Racecourses.

    18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #ad

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Paddy Power Horse Racing

    Paddy Power Sports Logo
    BET £20 AND GET IT BACK AS CASH IF IT LOSES
    Paddy Power is one of the best online and high street bookmakers in the UK and Ireland.

    New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any Football market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply.
    Full T&C's Apply

  • Ladbrokes Horse Racing

    Ladbrokes Horse Racing
    BET £5 GET £20 IN FREE BETS
    Ladbrokes is firmly established as one of the best horse racing betting sites. If you are looking for a new betting platform or betting app, they are a great choice.

    18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions apply.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Betfair Horse Racing

    Betfair Horse Racing
    BET £10 GET £30
    Betfair Sportsbook are one of the biggest and best-betting companies in the world for placing bets online.

    New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. Please Gamble Responsibly.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Virgin Bet Horse Racing

    Virgin Bet Logo
    BET £10 GET £20
    One of the top horse racing betting sites around, Virgin Bet is also one of the best online bookies in the UK. Increasingly popular for all sports betting.

    *New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Coral Horse Racing

    Coral Horse Racing
    GET £20 IN FREE BETS
    Coral is one of the most established and oldest of all UK bookmakers. They have stood the test of time and are of the best online bookmakers you can choose from.

    18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 1x £20 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions apply.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Unibet Horse Racing

    Unibet Horse Racing Logo
    UP TO £40 MONEY BACK
    One of the more new horse racing betting sites UK-wide, Unibet is gathering a lot of new punters and fans, who enjoy its easy-to-use website.

    18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first racing bet loses. Wagering: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Sports bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Spreadex Betting App

    Spreadex Horse Racing Logo
    BET 10 GET 40
    The spread-betting side of things is one of the best on the market and Spreadex should definitely be considered for those looking to dabble on horse racing bets.

    18+ begambleaware.org. Spread betting losses can exceed deposit.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Betway Horse Racing

    Betway Sports
    UP TO £10 IN FREE BETS
    Betway is another one which made the best online bookie list thanks to a range of sports, great odds, customer service and slick betting app interface.

    New customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £10. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only. Deposit method restrictions apply. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered.18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • LiveScore Bet Horse Racing

    BET £10 GET £20
    LiveScore Bet are a great sports betting site which offer a range of sporting events to place bets on.

    New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from crediting (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. **UK and Irish horse racing win/each-way bets placed after 9am on race day. Max enhancement £50k/day. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • BoyleSports Horse Racing

    Boyle Sports Logo
    BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS + FREE BET IF 2ND TO SP FAV
    BoyleSports is legitimate market-leading Irish bookmaker with amazing sign up bonuses for new customers.

    New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+.

    Full T&C's Apply

  • Mr Play Sport

    Mr.Play Sport Logo
    BET £10 GET £15
    Looking for a betting website with a different and modern approach? This leading betting site is gaining fans across the UK, check them out today to find out more.

    18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible.

    Full T&C's Apply

The above betting sites all made our list of the current best gambling sites.

Other Events at Listowel Racecourse

The only race meets other than the Harvest Festival held at Listowel Racecourse is the Summer Festival.

This too sees vast demand for its tickets and so is currently in the process of being extended from a two-day event to three.

Listowel Racecard

The racecards for Listowel Races are released the day before the races take place, find out where to view racecards here – tomorrow’s racecards and today’s racecards. In these, you will get an advance look at all the runners and riders.

You can also of course purchase a racecard from the track which carries much of the same useful information.

Listowel Weather

It’s good to keep up with the weather conditions for your day at the races, this is so you can plan what to wear for a day at the races and also so you know the racing conditions.

Check out the Listowel weather:

LISTOWEL WEATHER

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Listowel Racecourse Summary

A trip to Listowel Races is hugely popular and a great day out.

The main event is the Harvest Festival, a mixture of national hunt racing and flat racing. The main race hosted at the course is The Guinness Kerry National.

Listowel is known as being a great day out for friends, family and racing fans. It is one of our favourite racecourses and we recommended a visit!

Ireland Racecourses Alphabetical

Here is a full alphabetical list of Irish racecourses, as you can see there are lots of options and racecourses spread across the entire country:

As the Co-Founder of British Racecourses, I love the chance to share my enjoyment of racing with others. As a family, we have always loved the racing and went to Haydock races as kids, as often as we could. We are now lucky enough to own some fantastic racehorses who we will follow around the tracks and we have had some great wins. As part of British Racecourses, I enjoy visiting and reviewing the racecourses that we visit, all of which I think have something to offer and are brilliant in their own ways.