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If required to name two sporting passions in Ireland, the answer would undoubtedly be horseracing and golf. Both are freely available and of a very high standard found throughout the country but there is one course in County Meath which combines the best of both and that is Navan Racecourse.
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The par 72 18-hole championship golf course at Navan with an additional 12 bay floodlit driving range is enough for most people to spend some quality leisure time in the area but add to this some excellent Navan racing held throughout the year and the ever-growing appeal of the venue is obvious.
Navan racecourse has all the hallmarks of a friendly local course providing a great race day atmosphere for locals and visitors alike. What separates it from course of a similar size is the continued investment in the facilities, infrastructure and in the races themselves, all of which means attracting the best horses and riders and delighting ever-greater numbers of race fans in the process.
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Built in 1920, the course saw its greatest ever attendance in 2001, an illustration of the successes brought by this investment strategy, further evidenced by the many horses who have graced Navan racing and went on to great success on the international stage. Examples include Moscow Flyer, Hardy Eustace, and Brave Inca who all went on to win at Cheltenham. |
Good trial venues are important and draw the crowds looking to spot future stars and potential season earners. Navan racing is such an effective trial course for two reasons. Firstly, the atmosphere is certainly indicative of the all the great races, with strong local support and keen race fans travelling from near and far to attend and secondly because of the design and nature of the track, which is an undulating surface with a steep incline heading for home. The challenges presented by the track provide ideal preparation to test the best horses.
In addition to the trials, Navan racing is highly regarded in its own right, with significant prize money to be won. There are three notable hurdles events, each worth €50,000. The Fortria Chase also carries a purse of €50,000, and the Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle, €70,000.
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The centrepiece event of the season is the Troytown Chase, which is worth €85,000. In common with most racecourses in Ireland, Navan stages both Flat and National Hunt events but for the racing purist the National Hunt fixtures are definitely the main attractions and during the autumn and winter jump season all the great jump horses will feature at some point and the crowds will be there to show their appreciation.
Summer racing offers a whole different experience, where the emphasis is on fun and making the most of summer leisure time. To this end there are many such events staged at Navan from family fun days to Country and Western nights. The social highlight of the calendar is in October, when Ladies Day brings out the fashions and the day takes on a more celebratory and social dimension. The convenient location of the course helps bring the crowds to such events and there are regular buses from Dublin and Drogheda, which are 48km and 24km away respectively.
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Admission prices are €15 for adults and €9 for students and senior citizens. Children under 14 can enjoy Navan racing for free. Dining facilities at the course include a self-service restaurant and a selection of snack bars and there are numerous bar options for refreshments. A series of private suites are also available and offer stylish and exclusive race day dining for groups and corporate parties of between 65 and 125 persons.
This website is operated by Websitebrokers Limited and is not affiliated to any one racecourse or group of racecourses. |
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