The 2024 Irish fixture list, which will see the number of meetings rise to 395 while also extending the industry breaks in winter and summer and maintain six blank Sundays, was published by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) on Thursday.
There were 390 fixtures scheduled for 2023. All of the 2024 fixtures have been allocated barring four, and horses-in-training numbers are up 2%. Six turf fixtures have been added to the 2024 fixture list, initially on a one-year basis, and will held at Punchestown (Bank Holiday Monday, Feb. 5), the Curragh (Saturday, Apr. 6), Bellewstown & Down Royal (both Sunday. Apr. 14), Wexford (Wednesday, Aug. 7) and Roscommon (Monday, Oct. 14). In addition, The Flat winter break has been extended by nine days, from Dec. 22-Jan. 12. The summer break in the National Hunt season has also been extended by two days. The six blank Sundays will be on Apr. 28, June 23, July 14, July 28, Sept. 8 and Dec. 22.The Flat season will also begin slightly earlier at the Curragh on Mar. 18 and will end at that racecourse on Nov. 3. Some of the major racing festivals are as follows:
- Dublin Racing Festival: Feb. 3-4
- Cork Easter Festival: Mar. 30-Apr. 1
- Fairyhouse Easter Festival: Mar. 30-Apr. 1
- Punchestown Festival: Apr. 30-May 4
- Killarney Spring Festival: May 12-14
- Curragh Guineas Festival: May 24-26
- Down Royal Ulster Derby: June 21-22
- Curragh Derby Festival: June 28-30
- Bellewstown Summer Festival: July 4-6
- Killarney July Festival: July 15-19
- Curragh Oaks Festival: July 20-21
- Galway Festival: July 29-Aug. 4
- Tramore August Festival: Aug. 15-18
- Killarney August Festival: Aug. 22-24
- Irish Champions Festival: Sept. 14-15
- Listowel Harvest Festival 22-28
- Down Royal NH Festival: Nov. 1-2
- Navan Racing Festival: Nov. 16-17
- Punchestown Winter Festival: Nov. 23-24
- Fairyhouse Winter Festival: Nov. 30-Dec. 1
- Leopardstown Christmas Festival: Dec.26-29
- Limerick Christmas Festival: Dec. 26-29
Jason Morris, HRI's Director of Racing and Strategic Projects, said, “HRI is very conscious of the extra demands being placed on all those working in the industry by the increasing fixture list and hence why, following consultation, the Fixtures Committee has extended the break periods under both codes. There will now be a three-week gap over the Christmas and New Year period for the Flat, and a full two week break for the National Hunt sector in June/July. We have also retained the number of blank Sundays at six.”
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