What's On | Plan your weekend | Leopardstown Irish Champions Weekend

Day 1 : Leopardstown

Saturday 14th September 2019

Plan Your Day
DAY 1 | LEOPARDSTOWN

DAY 2 THE CURRAGH

What's On?

Racing

Fashion

Food & Drink

Getting There

Discover

Day 1

The QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes and the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes are the highlights on the opening afternoon at Leopardstown with the latter being ranked as the world’s best fillies and mares’ race in 2017. The day one programme has been enhanced with the promotion of the Willis Towers Watson Champions Juvenile Turf from Group 3 to Group 2 status and the introduction of a new Listed contest for two-year-old fillies.
Alongside top quality racing is an extensive programme of events including Longines Prize for Elegance. Enjoy one of the best days racing in the world along with elegant fashion, and off-track entertainment including music, gourmet food and beverages.

Day 1

Racing at Leopardstown

The QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes and the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes are the two Group 1 races on the opening day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend and share top-billing at Leopardstown.
A prestigious eight-race card offers a total prize fund of €2.45 million and features five Group races, a new Listed contest and two high-class handicaps each valued at €150,000.
Day one at Leopardstown features some of the best flat racing in the world and is a wonderful Irish sporting occasion not to be missed.

Ticket

types

General admission tickets give you access to the entire racecourse enclosure including the lower level of the grandstand. Everyone under 18 years of age can attend free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult.
There is also an opportunity to purchase an upgraded Day 1 ticket, these include Champions Bundle and Hospitality Options. You can purchase our upgraded tickets via the Leopardstown racecourse website www.leopardstown.com.
Book your weekend ticket to Longines Irish Champions Weekend below.
BUY NOW

Day 1

Racing at Leopardstown

The QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes and the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes are the two Group 1 races on the opening day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend and share top-billing at Leopardstown.
A prestigious eight-race card offers a total prize fund of €2.45 million and features five Group races, a new Listed contest and two high-class handicaps each valued at €150,000.
Day one at Leopardstown features some of the best flat racing in the world and is a wonderful Irish sporting occasion not to be missed.

The QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes

This race has become a leading contest in world horse racing; ranked as the joint second highest-rated race in the world and the top-rated race in Europe in 2016. Previous winners include Sadler’s Wells, Dylan Thomas, Sea The Stars, Fantastic Light, So You think, The Fugue, Snow Fairy, Golden Horn, Almanzor. Last year, the John Gosden-trained Roaring Lion reigned supreme and his Leopardstown performance helped him become the world’s top-rated three-year-old.
The Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes

Undoubtedly one of the best races of the season and the first of six Group 1 races on Longines Irish Champions Weekend, the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes was won in great style by Legatissimo in 2015, her third top-level success of that season. Alice Springs was even more impressive when winning the following year and for good measure she went on to take the Group 1 Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket next time out. Other notable recent winners include the likes of Soviet Song, Lush Lashes and Lillie Langtry. The 2017 renewal was particularly strong with Hydrangea and Winter, both trained by Aidan O'Brien, fighting out a thrilling race which was to be ranked as the world’s best fillies and mares’ race of the year. In 2018, the Karl Burke-trained Laurens just got the better of big local hope Alpha Centauri.
Leopardstown Programme

Gates Open approx 11am
Leopardstown – Saturday 14^th September
1.55pm   1^st Race: The Ballylinch Stud EBF Ingabelle Stakes (Listed)
2.30pm   2^ndRace: The Irish Stallions Farms EBF ‘Petingo’ Premier Handicap
3.05pm   3^rdRace: The KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (Group 2)
3.40pm 4^thRace:    The Paddy Power Betting Shop Stakes (Group 3)
4.15pm    5^thRace: The QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1)
4.50pm 6^thRace: The Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes (Group 2)
5.25pm    7^thRace: The Coolmore ‘Fastnet Rock’ Matron Stakes (Group 1)
6.00pm    8^thRace: The Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Sovereign Path’ Premier Handicap

Fashion

At The Races
Style and Fashion is at the heart of Longines Irish Champions Weekend. So why not embrace the fun of dressing up with a group of friends or family?
The weekend welcomes racing fashions from both ladies and gents that add theatre and colour to one of the social occasions of the year. But equally the weekend encourages the comfort of chic casual or pared-down elegance, so you can relax and enjoy this important sports weekend. In the words of Longines - elegance is an attitude.
LONGINES PRIZE FOR ELEGANCE

Longines Prize for Elegance is one of the most highly-regarded fashion competitions in the sporting world and provides an abundance of fashion, excitement, style, colour and theatre.

The weekend of fashion continues to grow in prestige and stature, attracting media attention and style ambassadors from around the world.
Prizes
This year the Most Stylish Gentlemen and Lady will be in with a chance of winning a classic Longines timepiece and an overnight stay for two in The 5* Merrion Hotel luxurious deluxe guestroom, spa treatments at The Merrion Spa, a Champagne breakfast and dinner with wine in The Garden Room restaurant.
THE MERRION HOTEL

The Merrion, located in the heart of Dublin city centre, is the capital’s most luxurious five star hotel, and a proud member of The Leading Hotels of the World. The 142-bedroom and suite hotel is as welcoming as it is stylish. An impeccable restoration of four Georgian townhouses, The Merrion is a marriage of exquisite comfort, relaxed elegance and advanced guest facilities, including free Wi-Fi, an 18m pool, spa and gym. The Merrion is home to the 2-star Michelin Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, The Cellar Bar, The Garden Room, and the intimate No. 23 Cocktail Bar.

Food and Beverage

packages
The Champions Quarter

Accessible to all patrons with a general admission ticket. Located beside the parade ring, the Champions Quarter delivers effortless sophistication and has become the social hub at Leopardstown. Enjoy food and refreshments and complimentary entertainment including Longines Prize for Elegance, Champagne bar, The Winning Line, Tote betting facilities, LCD TV's and live music after racing. Relax in this beautifully appointed area, complete with white picket fence, umbrellas, summer garden and non-reserved complimentary seating.
BOOK NOW
Champions Bundle - €40

If you are looking for the best value option to start your day at Leopardstown, the Champions Bundle is the perfect choice for you. This fantastic value bundle includes admission to racing (worth €35), a €10 food voucher a €5 Tote voucher and a race card (worth €3) .
BOOK NOW
CHAMPIONS PAVILLION PACKAGE - €170

Experience premium hospitality in the Leopardstown Pavilion with exclusive track-side views of the finishing straight. The Leopardstown Pavilion is a superb location to enjoy one of the most glamorous race meetings on the international racing calendar. The package includes: a welcome drink of Prosecco on arrival, admission, reserved table in the pavilion, race programme, buffet style dining, MC/Tipster, Tote betting facilities and complimentary parking.
BOOK NOW

Getting to

Leopardstown Racecourse
Leopardstown is conveniently located in South County Dublin and is easily accessible with excellent transport links from Dublin city centre.
BY SEA/AIR
Ireland has five main ferry ports – Belfast, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Larne and Rosslare, and seven main airports - Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Knock, Shannon and Waterford. If travelling from Great Britain to Ireland by ferry, you can bring your car or go as a foot passenger.
Visit Ireland.com for more information.
BY CAR
Via the M50 - Southbound: Located just six miles south of Dublin City Centre, Leopardstown is very accessible by car, easily accessed from the M50 - exit 15.
From City Centre: Take the N11 (Stillorgan dual carriageway) heading towards the Southeast, past Stillorgan (right). At traffic lights turn right onto Leopardstown Road R113 signposted Leopardstown.
BY RAIL
LUAS from City Centre: The LUAS offers a regular service from St. Stephen's Green to Sandyford that takes about 20 minutes. The racecourse is only a short walk from the Sandyford station which offers a complimentary shuttle bus service on the day.
Dart: There is a limited complimentary shuttle bus operating from Blackrock DART station to Leopardstown.
Leopardstown Racecourse
Foxrock
Co. Dublin

TEL:

+353 (0)1 289 0500

EMAIL:

[email protected]

WEB:

www.leopardstown.com