Roscommon Racecourse attracts support from leading trainers and jockeys in Ireland in both flat and national hunt racing. Roscommon has attracted many horses over the years that have gone on to much greater things on the world stage and we are determined to see this trend continue.
The two-mile Kilbegnet Novice Chase is our biggest jump race and the 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Call had his first outing over fences in that, finishing third to Sound Man who went on to win 10 more chases including the Tingle Creek twice. Our biggest race on the flat is the Lenebane Stakes, a listed race over a mile and a half run in July. Over the past 2 years this race has attracted runners from English stables. On both occasions the race has been won by an inmate of the John Oxx yard, who is a great supporter of Roscommon racetrack.
Indeed at our last September meeting John Oxx won with a 2 year old, first time out, called Keredari, who this April has won the Loughbrown Stakes ‘listed race’ at the Curragh. John Oxx in a post race interview said this is the best 3 year old he has in training.
This is not the first occasion that high class 2 year olds have made their debut at Roscommon. In July, 2008 a filly trained by David Wachman called Again made her debut in Roscommon. She went on to become the top 2 year old filly in Ireland and the following season won the Irish 1000 Guinneas. Some years previous to that Michael Grassick introduced Preseli at Roscommon who also went on to become the top rated 2 year old filly in Ireland.
Roscommon is noted for its friendly atmosphere and being only 1km. from the town a lot of the punters invariably head for town after racing. Gleeson’s Restaurant and the Abbey Hotel can be focal meeting points after racing. Race dances at the Abbey Hotel are also an integral part of the occasion.
