Listowel is another of Ireland's southern gems, located in County Kerry and home to plenty of excellent racing action mixed with superb social gatherings. 

Listowel's largest festival, known as the Harvest Festival, takes place in September and is a week-long celebration of racing and Irish culture, with the Kerry National the centrepiece of the meeting.

The current racecourse, which is close to the town centre, first opened in 1858 and celebrated its 150th Anniversary in 2008.

Here's our guide to Listowel racecourse.

Key Races at Listowel

Jumps

• Kerry National

Originally known as the North Kerry Hunt Steeplechase Meeting, Listowel now comes alive in September for their seven-day Harvest Festival. 

With its position in the calendar, it is effectively the final festival to take place in the summer, the last before Christmas and it is second only to the Galway Races in terms of attendances. 

The most valuable race run at Listowel is the three-mile Kerry National, which is run on the Wednesday of the Harvest Festival and is worth €200,000 in prize money. 

The most famous Kerry National winner of them all was Monty's Pass, trained across the border in Cork by Jimmy Mangan and also a winner of the Grand National at Aintree in 2003, the spring after his win at Listowel.

Track Layout

A left-handed, sharp track of about one-mile-and-one-furlong in length, with a run-in of about two furlongs, the Flat track at Listowel is considered to suit a speedy sort of horse.

It's quite tight and undulating track in nature and, in many eyes, it rides best on softer ground as it helps to slow things down.

Over jumps, Listowel is a very sharp, flat, left-handed oval track of about a mile-and-a-quarter. It very much favours the handy type and even in races over staying trips, it presents little in the way of a severe test of stamina.

There are five fences to a circuit of the chase track, with two in the home straight of less than two furlongs before a run-in that is around 200 yards.

When the ground is soft, fields often get quite well strung out quickly, as plenty of runners have been known to struggle with the conditions. The Listowel fences are stiff in nature.

Visiting Listowel

The origin of Listowel races can be traced back to an annual gathering at Ballyeigh, Ballybunion, about nine miles from Listowel, which dates back to the early nineteenth century.

Listowel Racecourse is located adjacent to the town and is within easy walking distance of the town centre. Listowel is located 22km north of Tralee and 60km west of Limerick.

Listowel proudly boasts an impressive array of facilities for racegoers, owners, trainers and jockeys alike.

Their newest stand offers public bars and restaurant, together with a reserved upper level with dining room and Corporate Hospitality Suites. 

Over the last number of years, a huge investment programme has been undertaken to add to the already impressive enclosure facilities at Listowel Races, and facilities now include the Hannon Stand, with reserved seating for patrons and two bars.

Listowel offers a variety of local produce for its racegoers as well as post-race entertainment. 

The Harvest Festival is a week-long celebration in September and sees the town of Listowel coming to life.

bet365 News Team

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