2021 racing schedule: seven for Bellewstown
Extra dates were announced today for Bellewstown and Kilbeggan racecourses for 2021 when Horse Racing Ireland today published the fixture list.
The overall number of fixtures will increase from the original 2020 figure of 370 to 380 next year.
Following the development at Bellewstown where 100 new stables were used for the first time this year, the committee has achieved its goal of an extra day for 2021 that will see one three-day and two two-day festivals at the popular hillside track.
Laytown is also scheduled for an annual fixture in 2021 while there are substantial dates for both Navan and Fairyhouse.
HRI has granted a new race meeting to Kilbeggan for Thursday 22nd April 2021.
Over the years Kilbeggan has grown from staging three race meetings annually to staging 10 race meetings including a two-day
meeting in 2021 on 22nd and 23rd April.
The 2021 list contains 379 meetings at this stage, as one ‘floating fixture’ will be kept in reserve, to be programmed at short by the HRI Fixtures Committee at a time when demand for opportunities to run is very high.
There will be an increase of seven turf fixtures (to 339), one being the floating fixture, with the six allocated additional meetings being staged at Gowran Park (Flat, April 8), Kilbeggan (National Hunt, April 22), Punchestown (Flat, September 14), Bellewstown (Flat, September 29 as part of new two-day meeting with a fixture moved from August), Killarney (Flat, October 2 with a fixture also moved from August to create two-day weekend meeting) and the Curragh (Flat, October 26).
These new fixtures have been allocated in industry-focused slots and are targeted at meeting the anticipated requirements of the horse population at that time.
There will also be an increase of three in the number of All-Weather Track fixtures at Dundalk in 2021. Wednesday fixtures at the course will be held in the late afternoon while Friday evening meetings will be held at their traditional times.
LOCAL DATES FOR 2021
BELLEWSTOWN
Thursday 1st July; Friday 2nd July; Saturday 3rd July;
Tuesday 24th August; Wednesday 25th August;
Wednesday 29th September; Thursday 30th September.
FAIRYHOUSE
Sunday 3rd January; Saturday 9th January; Saturday 16th January;
Saturday 30th January; Wednesday 10th February; Saturday 27th February; Saturday 3rd April; Sunday 4th April; Monday 5th April; Tuesday 13th April; Friday 28th May; Friday 11th JUne; Wednesday 7th July; Sunday 11th July; Monday 20th September; Saturday 9th October; Tuesday 2nd November; Tuesday 9th November; Sunday 21st November; Saturday 27th November; Sunday 28th November; Saturday 11th December.
KILBEGGAN
Thursday 22nd April; Friday 23rd April; Friday 14th May; Sunday 6th June; Monday 14th June; Friday 9th July; Friday 16th July; Saturday 7th August; Friday 20th August; Friday 3rd September.
LAYTOWN
Thursday 2nd September.
NAVAN
Saturday 23rd January; Sunday 21st February; Saturday 6th March; Saturday 13th March; Saturday 27th March; Saturday 24th April; Saturday 15th May; Saturday 29th May; Saturday 10th July; Saturday 28th August; Saturday 4th September; Saturday 18th September; Wednesday 6th October; Wednesday 20th October; Sunday 7th November; Saturday 4th December; Saturday 18th December.
2021 FESTIVALS
February 6th – 7th- Dublin Racing Festival
April 3rd – 5th - Cork Easter
April 3rd – 5th - Fairyhouse Easter
April 27th - May 1st - Punchestown National Hunt
May 9th – 11th - Killarney Spring
May 22nd - 23rd - Curragh Guineas
June 18th – 19th - Down Royal Ulster Derby
June 25th – 27th - Curragh Derby
July 1st – 3rd - Bellewstown July
July 12th – 16th - Killarney July
July 17th – 18th - Curragh Oaks
July 26th – August 1st - Galway Summer Festival
August 12th – 15th - Tramore August
August 19th – 21st - Killarney August
September 11th – 12th - Longines Irish Champions Weekend
September 19th – 25th -Listowel Harvest Festival
October 29th - 30th - Down Royal NI Festival of Racing
November 13th – 14th - Punchestown November Winter Racing
November 27th – 28th - Fairyhouse Premier Jump Racing Weekend
December 26th – 29th - Leopardstown Christmas
December 26th – 29th -Limerick Christmas