Down Royal Races

Down Royal Racecourse is the main horse racing venue in Northern Ireland. A right-handed undulating track near Lisburn, south of Belfast, one complete circuit is about a mile and seven furlongs.

The testing nature of Down Royal races mean they suit strong galloping horses. This racecourse hosts both flat and National Hunt meetings with the Ulster Derby and Her Majesty’s Plate over the summer the key events on the level.

Down Royal is best known for its two-day Champion Chase meeting in the autumn which contains several Grade and Listed races over jumps.

Down Royal Racecourse Fixtures And Events 2021

jan 2021

feb 2021

mar 2021

apr 2021

may 2021

jun 2021

jul 2021

aug 2021

sept 2021

oct 2021

nov 2021

dec 2021

TUE 26th Jan Down Royal

Turf Jump Afternoon

There are no events this month

WED 17th Mar Down Royal

Turf Jump Afternoon

There are no events this month

MON 3rd May Down Royal

Turf Jump Afternoon

FRI 4th Jun Down Royal

Turf Jump Evening

FRI 18th Jun Down Royal

Turf Jump Evening

SAT 19th Jun Down Royal

Turf Jump Afternoon

FRI 23rd Jul Down Royal

Turf Jump Evening

FRI 27th Aug Down Royal

Turf Jump Evening

FRI 3rd Sept Down Royal

Turf Jump Evening

FRI 29th Oct Down Royal

Turf Jump Afternoon

SAT 30th Oct Down Royal

Turf Jump Afternoon

There are no events this month

SUN 26th Dec Down Royal

Turf Jump Afternoon

Down Royal Races Tips

As Down Royal hosts both flat and jumps horse racing, there are different tips to consider depending on the type of events. Irish National Hunt trainer Gordon Elliott targets the Champion Chase meeting there every year. See the 57 winners sent out of his County Meath stables at the course from the 2015-16 season to 2019-20 season at an approximate 20 per cent strike rate as evidence.
On the flat, meanwhile, it has paid to follow Jim Bolger’s yard. He has trained a joint record seven Ulster Derby winners and boasted a 22 per cent success rate with his runners from 2015 to 2019.
Young handler Joseph O’Brien is also doing well with horses from his stable at Down Royal races after saddling the 2019 and 2020 winners of Her Majesty’s Plate.
Chris Hayes is the most successful active jockey here.