Historic Thurles Racecourse in Tipperary closes after nearly 300 years of horse racing

Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said the announcement was a surprise to everybody in the industry. 

A general view of Thurles Racecourse in 2016. Pic: Sam Barnes / SPORTSFILE

Thurles Racecourse, Ireland’s only privately owned racecourse, has closed with immediate effect. On Friday, Riona Molony announced the Molony family’s decision to retire from racing at the Tipperary track.

Thurles Racecourse has long been a cornerstone of National Hunt Racing in Ireland. The first recorded meeting at Thurles took place in 1732 and it has been in the hands of the Molony family since the early 1900s.