This guide to Leopardstown racecourse covers the main meetings, how to get there and what to check before you bet. Leopardstown is the only racecourse in Dublin. It sits in Foxrock, Dublin 18, about six miles from the city centre, and stages flat racing, hurdle races and chases, with racing through the year.
- Leopardstown is the only racecourse in Dublin, in Foxrock, about six miles from the city centre.
- Big meetings: the Dublin Racing Festival in February, the Christmas Festival in December and the Irish Champions Festival in September.
- Both codes: it stages flat racing, hurdles and chases, with racing through the year.
What is racing like at Leopardstown?
That mix makes it one of the few Irish tracks that matters in both halves of the calendar. The jumps season peaks here in February and December, and the flat season peaks here in September.
Main meetings and races at Leopardstown
- Dublin Racing Festival: February, two days of jumps racing. Feature races include the Irish Gold Cup.
- Christmas Festival: December, four days of jumps racing.
- Irish Champions Festival: September, the flat peak, with the Irish Champion Stakes and the Matron Stakes.
- Classic trials: Spring, for the season’s Irish Classic runners.
- Summer racing: A summer series that combines racing with live music.
The Dublin Racing Festival and the Christmas Festival are the two best-known jumps meetings in Dublin, and both are close to the Cheltenham Festival in the calendar, so their results feed into March markets. See our Cheltenham Festival betting guide for how ante-post markets work.
How do you get to Leopardstown?
By Luas, take the Green Line from St Stephen’s Green to Sandyford (Brewery Road). It takes about 22 minutes, followed by a short walk, and free shuttle buses run on race days. Dublin Bus also serves the racecourse.
By road, use exit 14 southbound or exit 15 northbound on the M50, or the N11 from the city centre. Dublin Airport is about half an hour away.
How do you bet at Leopardstown?
Leopardstown’s big jumps meetings are heavy on graded races, where fields can be smaller and favourites short. Prices on the Dublin Racing Festival and Christmas Festival feature races are usually available weeks ahead, so understand ante-post rules before you bet early.
On the flat, Irish Champions Festival races are competitive Group races. If you prefer a spread of selections across a card, our Trixie calculator and Yankee calculator show what combination bets return.
What should you check before betting at Leopardstown?
- The going, which can change through a meeting and between days of a festival.
- Whether the race is a graded race or a handicap, because handicaps have bigger fields and different each-way terms.
- Ante-post rules: in most cases a stake is lost if your horse does not run, unless the bookmaker offers a non-runner promotion.
Our guide to assessing a race goes through the racecard, the going and the odds step by step, and the horse racing betting guide explains terms such as each-way, Rule 4 and non-runners.
Related guides
- Horse racing in Ireland: courses and festivals
- Horse racing tips: how to assess a race
- Horse racing betting guide for Irish punters
- Cheltenham Festival betting guide
- Punchestown guide
- Fairyhouse guide
- The Curragh guide
- Galway Racecourse guide
- Listowel Racecourse guide
- Navan Racecourse guide
- Dundalk Stadium guide
- Down Royal guide
- Best odds guaranteed and each-way explained
- Each way calculator
- Betting sites in Ireland
Frequently asked questions
Where is Leopardstown racecourse?
In Foxrock, Dublin 18, about six miles from Dublin city centre. It is the only racecourse in Dublin.
When is the Dublin Racing Festival?
In February, over two days of jumps racing at Leopardstown. Check Horse Racing Ireland for the dates each year.
When is the Leopardstown Christmas Festival?
In December, over four days of jumps racing.
How do I get to Leopardstown by public transport?
Take the Luas Green Line to Sandyford (Brewery Road), then walk. Free shuttle buses run on race days, and Dublin Bus also serves the course.
Sources and further reading
- Horse Racing Ireland: Leopardstown – official course information
- Leopardstown official website – fixtures, tickets and race-day travel
- Horse Racing Ireland – the governing authority for the racing industry in Ireland, with fixtures and course information
- GamblingCare.ie – free, confidential gambling support in Ireland
18+. Please play responsibly, gamblingcare.ie. This guide is independent editorial opinion; it is not a guarantee, endorsement or financial advice, and does not imply any affiliate or commercial relationship with any operator named.
Last updated 27 October 2026. Written and checked by the Punter Ireland editorial team. Offers, odds and rules change, so always check the operator’s own terms and the official sources above.
