Wexford Racecourse

Welcome to our Wexford Racecourse Guide.

Located in the southeast of Ireland, Wexford Racecourse has undergone significant changes in recent years and is now exclusively a National Hunt racing venue.

We explore this Irish racecourse in detail, examining its history, a guide to the track, local hotel recommendations, racing fixtures, travel information, betting guides, tips, and even the weather.

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

Find out more about Wexford Racecourse:

Overview of Wexford Races

The Wexford Races, located in the town of Wexford, are known for their popular Friday evening meetings and race events held throughout the months of March to November.

It was, until 2016, a flat and National Hunt racing course, but was converted exclusively to the latter a year after the track switched from being right-handed to left-handed.

Amongst the changes undergone, the course itself has been widened and realigned – and as a result, is popular amongst owners, trainers and jockeys, continuing to attract large and competitive fields of runners of many types.

Alongside the investment made in the track itself, Wexford Racecourse has also enjoyed the development of its grandstands, hospitality, and entertainment facilities. It has now positioned itself as an attractive venue for corporate events, hen and stag parties, and other large special occasion celebrations.

Wexford Racecourse is rapidly gaining popularity due to its modern amenities, sunny location, and increasingly impressive racing talent.

Wexford Racing Tips

Wexford Racecourse History

Wexford Racecourse has verified documentation of horse racing taking place in its vicinity since the 1870s; however, the current course near Bettyville was established in 1951.

Indee,d the sport was already in demand enough that a stunning 17,000 people attended the first race meet on that October evening.

Over the years, various improvements and developments have been made to the course, and it has been levelled several times. The staff, comprising entirely dedicated racing enthusiasts, continue to work hard on both the facilities and marketing of Wexford Racecourse to this day, truly positioning it as an essential and attractive venue in the Irish horseracing scene for both those in the equestrian industry and racegoers alike.

Wexford Racecourse Map

Below is a map of Wexford Racecourse:

The track is undulating and rectangular, measuring 9.5 furlongs.

Races are run left-handed despite previous meets having been right-handed, and the new winning post sits to the right of the stands. Wexford’s track is sharp with tight turns and is favoured by fast, handy horses.

The hurdles course sits inside the chase one, with six fences to a circuit of the chase course: three in the home straight and two on the far side.

Main Races and Events At Wexford Racecourse

There is no one set ‘big event’ on the calendar at Wexford Racecourse, but instead, 11 separate fixtures that all usually draw a sell-out crowd.

The races are usually of Grade 2 level. As Wexford continues to position itself in the Irish horseracing scene, it is increasingly drawing in more competitive events with more prominent horses and jockeys and larger value prize pots.

Wexford Racecourse can definitely be considered ‘one to watch’ and is likely to host larger and more impressive events in the coming years as other tracks struggle and this one continues to develop and grow further.

Wexford Racecourse Address

The address of Wexford Racecourse is:

Wexford Racecourse
Bettyville
Newtown Road
Carricklawn
Wexford
County Wexford
Ireland

How To Get To Wexford Racecourse

The ways to get to Wexford races are:

• By car – Wexford Racecourse is situated just a kilometre west of the town of Wexford, County Wexford. Situated between all major road routes into the town, it is easily accessible by road. It takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from Dublin, 2 hours and 15 minutes from Cork, 3 hours and 30 minutes from Galway, and 3 hours and 30 minutes from Belfast.
• By train – the nearest train station is Wexford, which is served up to four times a day by Irish Rail from Dublin. Once in the town centre of Wexford, the racecourse is within walking distance but can also be navigated by the regular bus service from the centre to Wexford General Hospital, which is just opposite the venue.
• By airport – the closest airport to Wexford is Waterford Airport, but services are currently restricted there due to building works delayed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, currently, the closest commercial airport to the racecourse is Dublin, some 2 hours away.

Hotels near Wexford Racecourse

Wexford Racecourse doesn’t have hundreds of hotels in its vicinity, as the town is relatively small, but there are options available.

The town centre features some small, independently owned hotels and guesthouses, as well as more premium choices for those seeking an upgraded stay. The Clayton Whites Hotel features a full-on-site leisure centre, gym, and spa, and frequently offers special discounts for those travelling as part of a promotional package. Across the Slaney River Estuary, you’ll find the Riverbank House Hotel, which is well-renowned for its à la carte restaurant and customer service.

Those looking for chain hotels or a wider range of overnight accommodations can find plenty in nearby Waterford or Kilkenny.

Betting Shops Local to Wexford Racecourse

Wexford Racecourse features a branch of BoyleSports on-site for those looking to place a bet on the races. Still, you’ll also find a variety of independent bookmakers trackside toward the winning post (and they often offer the most competitive odds).

There are on-table tote facilities on race days for those in corporate and hospitality suites.

There’s free WiFi throughout the venue at Wexford Races, so those wishing to bet online can do so easily on their devices; although mobile signal isn’t bad in the area anyway, so connecting to the internet may not necessarily be required. Check out these top betting mobile apps.

The town of Wexford has a few branches of chain betting shops – including four branches of BoyleSports, two of PaddyPower and one of Bar One Racing. Several of these are in the town centre, but smaller betting shops can be found in more residential areas.

Other Events at Wexford

Wexford Racecourse is not just home to horse racing – it hosts a popular parkrun on its grounds too!

As the hospitality and corporate facilities and amenities have developed, so too has the amount of non-racing events happening on-site, and as a result, it is now not uncommon to find other events taking place at the track even on days when race meets aren’t scheduled.

Summary of Wexford Races

Wexford is a great national hunt track hosting competitive racing.

Although one of the smaller Irish racing courses, it has a good reputation and is popular with racing fans as well as families and those looking for a great day out.

Although Wexford is small, it packs a punch and is worth a visit.