Ballinrobe August Evening Races

Ballinrobe Racecourse closes out its summer racing programme on Monday 24 August 2026 with an evening National Hunt card billed as the final summer fixture of the year. Ballinrobe is the only racecourse in County Mayo, so a fixture here always carries a bit more local weight than the calendar entry suggests, and an evening card in late August tends to draw a proper crowd making the most of the last of the summer light.

What to Expect

Gates open at 3:00pm, with the first race off at 4:51pm and the card running through to around 8:00pm, giving racegoers a full evening of National Hunt action, hurdles and fences over the track’s tight right-handed circuit. On-course bookmakers and the Tote are both in operation, and food and bar service run throughout the evening. Ballinrobe has raced since the 1770s, and the current course, in use since 1921, has picked up Racecourse of the Year recognition from the Irish Racegoers Consultative Forum, so the facilities are a level up from what the size of the fixture might suggest. Booking online in advance gets a reduced admission rate compared with paying at the gate, which is worth doing if you already know you are going.

Getting There

Ballinrobe sits about 20km south of Castlebar on the N84, and around 45 minutes north of Galway via the N84 through Headford. There is no rail station in the town; the nearest is Claremorris, roughly 21km away, so a car is the practical way to get to an evening fixture. On-course parking is available at the racecourse.

Good to Know

• Date: Monday 24 August 2026
• Gates open: 3:00pm
• First race: 4:51pm; last race around 8:00pm
• Price: From EUR 15, cheaper booking online in advance than at the gate
• Organiser: Ballinrobe Racecourse
• Contact: (094) 954 1811, info@ballinroberacecourse.ie
• Booking and info: ballinroberacecourse.ie