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sport · Sunday 12 July 2026 · 14:00 
Dundalk Stadium Horse Racing - Sunday
At Dundalk Stadium · Dowdallshill, Dundalk, Co. Louth
At Dundalk Stadium · Dowdallshill, Dundalk, Co. Louth
A Sunday afternoon at Dundalk Stadium is one of the more enjoyable ways to spend a July day in Louth. Flat racing on Ireland’s only all-weather floodlit track draws a mix of serious punters, families after a day out, and plenty of people who simply enjoy the atmosphere and a decent meal. This particular fixture - Sunday 12 July 2026 - falls on Ladies Day, which gives the afternoon an extra bit of colour and occasion.
Dundalk races on a Generation Polytrack surface: a wax-coated synthetic oval of 10 furlongs with a 5-furlong sprint straight. Because the surface is all-weather, the racing is consistent and fields are generally competitive. The track has a strong reputation - Group 1 winners have come through here, and trainers use it year-round to keep horses sharp. Gates open from 2pm, and the first race typically follows shortly after.
Inside the stadium, the facilities are genuinely comfortable. There are four places to eat: The View Restaurant looks out over the Cooley Mountains and has table-side tote betting; Silks Carvery serves traditional hot meals; the Saddle Cocktail Bar suits groups with finger food; and Bit & Bite does fast food if you want to keep it simple. Race cards are available for €3. Dress code is smart casual - no tracksuit bottoms, shorts, or sportswear.
Hospitality packages can be booked in advance, starting at around €25 per person for a reserved table with finger food; a four-course meal option runs to €49. Alternatively, general admission at the gate at €15 for adults gets you full access to the track and terraces.
Children under 14 get in free, which makes this a solid family afternoon.
Dundalk is roughly 85 km north of Dublin on the M1 motorway, and about 30 km south of Newry. By car, the stadium is at Dowdallshill on the southern edge of town. Free parking is available on site. By bus, the town centre is served by Bus Eireann from Dublin and Belfast; the stadium is a short taxi ride from the bus station. Dundalk Clarke rail station is also on the Dublin-Belfast Enterprise line and is around 2 km from the stadium.
Dundalk town has good options for food before or after the races, and the Cooley Peninsula to the east is worth the detour if you have time. There is more to see in Dundalk and across Co. Louth.
Heading to Dundalk Stadium in Dundalk? Louth has plenty more to see. Read the Dundalk area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.