Few weekends in world racing pack in more class than the Irish Champions Festival. Since its inaugural running in 2014, the two-day, two-venue spectacular has grown into Ireland’s premier Flat fixture. It now boasts six Group 1 races across Leopardstown (13th September) and The Curragh (14th September), a combination of prestige, prize money, and pageantry unmatched in the Irish racing year.
Day 1 at Leopardstown is headlined by the Irish Champion Stakes (G1), a 1m2f contest inaugurated in 1976 and regularly ranked among the world’s top races. Champions such as Sea The Stars, Golden Horn, Magical, Luxembourg, and Auguste Rodin have graced its roll of honour, confirming its status as a key late-season championship clash. Sharing the spotlight is the Matron Stakes (G1), officially recognised among the world’s leading races for fillies and mares, and a regular showcase of class and speed.
Day 2 moves to The Curragh for four Group 1s: the Irish St Leger, the final Irish Classic plus the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Bar One Racing Flying Five (Ireland’s only Group 1 five-furlong sprint).
12 September - Exclusive Tours and Countryside Elegance
Ease into the festival before the racing crowds arrive. Begin with our exclusive The Curragh - Behind the Scenes tour, offering unrivalled access to the home of all five Irish Classics. The Curragh’s association with horse training is centuries old and even enshrined in law.
Start with breakfast at Orby’s Restaurant, then follow in a jockey’s footsteps; from the changing room to the weigh room, on to the pre-parade ring where you’ll handle racing equipment, and finally to the grandstand’s top balcony, taking in sweeping views of the historic gallops.
If you’d prefer to soak up more of Ireland’s rural charm, head to County Tipperary for a day steeped in history and hospitality. Our Scones & Saddle tour combines iconic heritage with indulgent dining including the visit to the Rock of Cashel (seat of the kings of Munster, with the 12th-century Cormac’s Chapel), then choose between a four-course lunch at Mikey Ryan’s or refined afternoon tea at the Cashel Palace, an 1730s Palladian townhouse with a storied link to Arthur Guinness through Archbishop Arthur Price before the excellent Fethard Horse Country Experience, an interactive museum inside Fethard’s 17th-century Tholsel.
Prefer a slower pace? This easygoing package couples the Fethard Folklore & Food itinerary offers an equally captivating blend, uncover the stories of Ireland’s equine heritage at the Fethard Horse Country Experience before enjoying a two-course lunch at Sadler’s Restaurant. A tidy way to soak up South Tipp’s equine heritage without rushing.
13 September - Leopardstown, Championship Racing https://horsecountry.ie/upcoming-tours/in Dublin’s Backyard
With the first race at 2:15pm, the morning is free for an unforgettable stud farm visit. Kildangan Stud, Darley/Godolphin’s Irish quarter with elite stallions, immaculate yards and living bloodstock history. Closed to the public for a decade, its Foal to Fame experience at 11:30pm offers insight into the journey from foal to racetrack star, alongside private museum access. Alternatively, tour the Irish National Stud & Gardens, home to world-class stallions, wander Japanese Gardens (1906-1910) and relax in St Fiachra’s Garden before heading to Foxrock.
What to watch for:
Irish Champion Stakes (G1): often a proving ground for Arc contenders.
Matron Stakes (G1): the definitive mile for fillies and mares, with recent wins by Tahiyra (2023) and Porta Fortuna (2024).
Leopardstown, established in 1888 and inspired by Sandown Park, sits at the foot of the Dublin Mountains just six miles from the city centre, a natural amphitheatre for high drama.
Day Two - The Curragh, 14th September
The first race goes off at 1:30pm, leaving ample time for a relaxed morning at the Irish National Stud. See its celebrated stallion roster and the “Living Legends” greats such as Hurricane Fly, Faugheen, Beef or Salmon, and Sizing John before exploring its tranquil gardens.
The feature races:
Irish St Leger (G1): a gruelling test where stayers’ reputations are sealed.
National Stakes & Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1): two-year-old championships shaping the following year’s Classics.
Flying Five (G1): Ireland’s sole top-tier sprint and a key Breeders’ Cup pointer.
The Curragh, whose very name means “place of the running horse,” has been central to Irish racing for centuries; its open plains are so important they are protected by legislation.
With Horse Country deepened your appreciation of Ireland’s role in shaping the sport. Walk the very gallops where champions are made, dine in historic settings, and experience the warm welcome that Ireland is famed for. By the time you take your seat in the grandstand, you won’t just be watching the Irish Champion Festival, you’ll be living it.
Full Itinerary Here
