Curragh Racing Today: Racecards, Results and Fixtures

15 October

This page has today's Curragh race card, live Curragh racing results, upcoming fixtures and our Curragh racing tips, along with a guide to the headquarters of Irish Flat racing.

Set on the open plains of County Kildare, just off the M7 and around an hour's drive from Dublin, the course is home to all five Irish Classics. It races from late March to the start of November, and it sits at the centre of Ireland's biggest training community, with about 1,500 acres of gallops surrounding the track.

Curragh Racecards for Today

The Curragh race card today shows every runner and rider, the draw, recent form, the latest odds and race times. It updates from final declarations right up to the off, so non-runners and going changes show as soon as they're announced. Curragh racing results are added as each race is settled, and tomorrow's Curragh race card appears once declarations close.

Curragh Racing Fixtures 2026

The Curragh holds around 23 racedays a year, and the 2026 Irish Flat season ends there on 1 November. Here are the remaining Curragh race meetings for 2026:

The 2027 season is due to start at the Curragh in late March.

Curragh Racing Tips

If you're looking for Curragh racing tips for today, here are some general tips to keep in mind for the track:

• Back proven stayers: The Curragh is a wide, galloping, right-handed horseshoe of about two miles, and it finishes with a stiff, uphill straight of about three furlongs. Horses that are only just getting the trip often fade in the final furlong.
• Follow Ballydoyle, especially in big races: Aidan O'Brien has trained more than 700 winners at the Curragh, far more than any other trainer, and his runners dominate the Classics and Group races. In 2026 alone, he won the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Irish Derby, the Irish St Leger and the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
• Ryan Moore's strike rate stands out: Ryan Moore has won with around 30% of his rides at the Curragh, which is an outstanding record given the quality of the races. When he rides a Ballydoyle favourite, it usually takes a lot of beating.
• Use the two-year-old races as a guide: The Curragh is known for its high-class two-year-old races, including the Moyglare and the National Stakes. Winners here are often among the leading candidates for the following year's Classics.
• Favourites are reliable in non-handicaps: Favourites have won 39% of Flat non-handicaps at the Curragh, but only 21% of handicaps. The big-field handicaps on major race days are where bigger-priced winners come through.
• Check the ground and watering: The Curragh has a watering system, and the ground usually rides good to yielding or better in summer. Spring and autumn meetings can be much softer, though, so check the latest going report before racing.

Curragh Race Track Guide

The Curragh race track is a right-handed, horseshoe-shaped circuit of about two miles, with a one-mile chute. Five- and six-furlong races are run on a straight course, while longer races sweep round the wide, galloping bend into a home straight of about three furlongs, which rises to a stiff finish.

It's one of the fairest tracks in Europe, with few hard-luck stories, but it's a real test of stamina at every distance. The course was redeveloped with a new grandstand and facilities that opened in 2019.

Draw and Ground

On the straight sprint course, the draw usually depends on where the pace is and which part of the track is riding best. Big fields can split into two groups, so watch the early races on the card. On the round course, the wide, sweeping bend means the draw matters less, although a good early position helps in bigger fields.

The going is often good or good to firm in summer, helped by the watering system. The early spring and late autumn fixtures, including the season finale in November, can be run on soft or heavy ground.

The Irish Classics at the Curragh

The Curragh is home to all five Irish Classics:

• Irish 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas (May): Both are run over a mile during the Guineas Festival in late May. In 2026, Gstaad won the 2,000 Guineas as the 4/11 favourite for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.
• Irish Derby (June): First run in 1866, the Irish Derby is the highlight of the Curragh's summer. In 2026, Benvenuto Cellini won it as the 7/4 favourite for O'Brien and Moore.
• Irish Oaks (July): This is the Classic for three-year-old fillies, run over a mile and a half.
• Irish St Leger (September): Run on the Sunday of the Irish Champions Festival, the Irish St Leger is open to older horses as well as three-year-olds. Scandinavia won it in 2026 at 4/11.

The Curragh day of the Irish Champions Festival in September also features the Moyglare Stud Stakes, the National Stakes and the Flying Five. All three are Group 1 races.

History

The name Curragh comes from the Irish word Cuirreach, meaning 'place of the running horse', and horses have been raced on the plain for centuries. The first recorded race there was in 1727, and the first Irish Derby was run in 1866. In 1868, an Act of Parliament officially recognised the Curragh as a racing and training ground.

A major redevelopment began in 2017, and the new grandstand and facilities opened in 2019. Today, the surrounding training grounds cover about 1,500 acres, with around 70 miles of turf gallops and the popular Old Vic woodchip gallop.

Top Trainers and Jockeys at the Curragh

Aidan O'Brien is by far the leading trainer at the Curragh, with 738 winners. Jim Bolger (219), Dermot Weld (214), Joseph O'Brien and John Oxx (153 each) are next.

Johnny Murtagh is still the leading jockey at the Curragh with 228 winners. Ryan Moore is just behind on 223, with a much higher strike rate of 30%. The late Pat Smullen, Kevin Manning and Wayne Lordan have all ridden more than 180 winners at the course. Source: IrishRacing.com.

Visiting the Curragh Racecourse

The Curragh Racecourse is in Co. Kildare, just off the M7. From Dublin, take the N7 south and leave the M7 at Exit 12. There's plenty of free parking. On race days, free shuttle buses run from Kildare and Newbridge train stations, and Expressway coaches run from Dublin on major race days.

Curragh races tickets can be booked online, and it's worth booking early for the Guineas, Derby and Irish Champions Festival weekends. Many racegoers dress smartly for the big Classic days, but at most other meetings, smart-casual clothes are fine.

Watching Curragh Racing Live

Every Curragh meeting is shown live on Racing TV, which covers all Irish racing in the UK and Ireland. The big Classic days are also shown on free-to-air TV in Ireland. Many bookmakers offer free live streams to customers who have a funded account or have placed a bet on the race.

Bookmakers for Curragh Races

All the major UK and Irish bookmakers price up every Curragh race. Look for Best Odds Guaranteed on Irish racing, and extra places on the big handicaps on Derby weekend and at the Irish Champions Festival.

Curragh Racing FAQs

Is Curragh racing on today?

Check the fixtures table above. If there's racing at the Curragh today, the race card and race times appear at the top of this page.

Where can I find Curragh racing results today?

Curragh racing results are added to this page as each race is settled, including the winners and starting prices. Results from yesterday's racing and earlier meetings stay available afterwards.

Is the Curragh races on TV today?

Every Curragh meeting is shown live on Racing TV, and the big Classic days are also shown on free-to-air TV in Ireland.

When is the last Curragh meeting of 2026?

The season finale on Sunday 1 November marks the end of the Irish Flat season at the Curragh.

Who won the 2026 Irish Derby?

Benvenuto Cellini won the 2026 Irish Derby as the 7/4 favourite for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore.

Is there jump racing at the Curragh?

The Curragh is almost entirely a Flat course and is best known as the home of the five Irish Classics.