Naas Racecourse

Welcome to our official guide to Naas Racecourse.

We explore this great Irish jump and flat track in detail, looking at its history, a guide to the track, the best local hotel picks, racing fixtures, travel information, betting guides, and even the weather.

If you are looking for the latest betting tips for Naas, check out our full guide to Naas Racecourse tips.

Find out more about Naas Racecourse:

Overview of Naas Races

Found in the heart of County Kildare, Naas is one of the most reputable racecourses in Ireland.

Hosting a combination of National Hunt and flat racedays throughout the year, it is a “must-visit” thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities and top-class racing.

Naas is a popular destination for racing enthusiasts and is around 18 miles from Dublin. The racecourse hosts a wide array of fixtures throughout the year, boasting both flat and National Hunt meets.

Naas often acts as a pivotal warm-up for major racing events in Ireland and the UK, with hopeful trainers & jockeys testing the mettle of their horses on this course before going on to bigger targets.

The racetrack itself at Naas is left-handed. The track runs for around a mile and a half, with the home straight comprising of a four-furlong run. Experts consider it to be made for galloping horses. The track also has an uphill finish, so endurance is required.

It does not have a dress code, so provided you are dressed appropriately for the weather, this is not a concern. Awards are handed to the best-dressed lady during the assigned Ladies Day, though, so there is some motivation to glam up!

Children are welcome at Naas, and those under 18 are granted access free of charge.

History of Racing at Naas

Naas Racecourse first opened its doors for racing meets in 1924.

Co. Kildare has long been considered the equine capital of the Emerald Isle, and it has always enjoyed a stellar reputation. Initially, this was purely due to the quality of the racing itself. It was praised for the quality of horses that competed, but was widely regarded as a slightly less impressive venue than British competitors that boasted higher budgets. Over time, countless improvements have been made to change this perspective.

Today, Naas is considered a state-of-the-art venue and one of the most popular tracks in Ireland. It is also highly in-demand as a venue available for private hire.

2015 was a gala year for Naas, as it saw the Slaney Novice Hurdle become the first Grade One race in the track’s history.

From there, it has continued to go from strength to strength.

It remains a firm favourite venue for countless Irish racing enthusiasts.

Naas Racecourse Maps

There are two courses at Naas; the flat one and the jump track.

Naas Flat Course

Below is a map of the flat course at Naas Racecourse:

The track at Naas Racecourse is left-handed and undulating in nature.

It is known as a galloping track and has a stiff 4 furlong uphill finish from the home turn.

A full circuit is 1 m4f. The run-in is 4 furlongs.

Five and six-furlong races are run on the straight course (the sprint track).

Naas Jumps Track

Below is a map of the Naas jumps course:

The jumping course is a left-handed track.

That said, conditions can get testing on winter ground, especially with the stiff uphill finish.

Main Races and Naas Race Meetings

Naas Racecourse operates all year round.

This means that the track offers both flat and national hunt races, depending on the season.

It also hosts a number of reputable races, including Grade I races.

A typical fixture list includes:

• January- Two jump meets, including the Slaney Hurdle, Novice Chase and the Limestone Lad Hurdle (Grade 1),
• February- Two jumping meets, including the Newlands Chase, Johnstown Novice Hurdle, and Nas Na Riogh Novice Chase
• March- Two jump meets, including the Naas Directors Plate Novice Chase
• April – one evening meeting
• May -Ladies Day
• June three flat racing meets, the third of which features the Naas Oaks Trial and Filly’s Sprint Stakes.
• July -one flat racing meet that features a summer BBQ, an evening party, and a blackwater-handicap Blackwater Handicap and the Yeomanstown Stud EBF Sprint Stakes
• August Two race days – a Family Fun Day and the Irish Ballyhane Stakes Day, one of the most popular events in the calendar. It also has the  Naas Racecourse Business Club handicap
• September – Active Retirement and Men’s Shed Day, which includes Two-Year-Old Day
• October -Foran Finale Day, which includes the eponymous Foran Finale
• November – two race days-the flat season finale, which includes the Birdwatcher Premier Nursery and November Handicap (the Naas November Handicap), and the Return of the Jumps, which hosts the Fishery Lane Hurdle
• December – one National Hunt race day, usually before Christmas

It’s always best to check in advance if race meets are taking place, especially if travelling from afar.

Fixture lists are always subject to change based on unforeseen external circumstances.

Naas Racecourse Address

The official address of Naas Racecourse is:

Naas Racecourse
Tipper Road
Naas
Co Kildare
Ireland

How to Get To Naas Races

The ways to get to Naas Racecourse are:

• By road – if you’re planning to drive in from Dublin, head onto the N7 from the R410. Leave the N7 at exit 9 and follow the road signs. If you’re driving in from southern Ireland, take exit 9 from the M7. Again, follow the clearly mapped signs from here. You’ll be just five minutes away from the track.
• By train – if you’re taking the train, the closest station is Sallins. This station is found just outside the town, so it will not cost the earth in a taxi.
• Shuttle – alternatively, there is a free shuttle service that caters for racegoers on meet days.

If you’re travelling to Naas from outside Eire, you should plan your trip via Dublin.

Whether travelling by road, air or rail, using the Irish capital as a key pitstop makes it far more accessible. Dublin airport is by far the closest way to gain access by Naas by air.

Expect to travel for around 40 minutes from Dublin to Naas, covering a little under 20 miles. This means that you’ll likely want to avoid taxis, especially those that run a meter.

Hotels Near Naas Racecourse

If you’re attending a meeting from outside Ireland, you may need to stay overnight.

Thankfully, as the second-largest township in County Kildare, Naas has plenty of options. The Naas Court Hotel, Lawlor’s of Naas and the Osprey Hotel are the closest options, all located within a mile of the racetrack.

The Naas Court is very much a budget-friendly, no-frills option, while the Osprey is costlier but considerably more luxurious. Lawlor’s, a boutique hotel located in the heart of the town centre, offers the best of both worlds.

If you’re prepared to travel further – and spend a little more – the Killashee Hotel is a decadent further option that provides an authentic Irish experience.

Other Events Held at Naas Racecourse

One of the most appealing elements of the track is the spectacular facilities that it offers.

Private suites and fine dining are available at this track, making it great for corporate events – whether at the races or for private training or parties.

Naturally, it can also be hired as a wedding or celebration venue by the general public.

Overall, there are not many external events hosted at the track. Certain race meets are tied in with themes and events though, such as BBQs held during August’s Family Fun Day, so there is rarely a quiet day at a meet.

Naas Races 2024

Here is the horse racing calendar for Naas Races in 2024:

Check out the full list of Irish Horse Race Meetings in 2024.

Naas Racecard

The racecards for the Naas 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, some people like to do this and select their horses before getting to the track.

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

Naas Weather Forecast

Punters and race-goers love to keep up with the weather to predict going conditions, as well as making sure what they wear is suitable.

Here’s the current Naas weather forecast:

NAAS WEATHER

Summary of Naas Racecourse

A stunning Irish racecourse based outside Dublin, Naas hosts top quality racing with the state of the art and fantastic facilities.

It hosts great jumps and flat meetings, with one of the highlights being the Blue Wind Stakes. It holds eighteen race meetings, including family fun days and summer barbeque evenings throughout the year.

The course itself is known as being fair, with a five and six-furlong straight course and a four furlong home straight on the round course, meaning that most horses are able to strike a blow if good enough.

The crowds are both knowledgeable but fun and it has great customer service.

It is a course we really like here and strongly recommend a visit. We love Naas!