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seasonal · Monday 10 August 2026 · 5:10pm 
Ballinrobe Racecourse - August Racing
At Ballinrobe Racecourse · Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo
At Ballinrobe Racecourse · Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo
An evening at Ballinrobe Racecourse is one of those summer outings that rewards you with more than you expected. This August bank holiday week fixture draws a good crowd of locals and visitors alike, and the combination of competitive horse racing, a natural amphitheatre setting overlooking Lough Carra, and the easy pace of a Monday evening makes it a very agreeable way to spend a few hours. It suits racing fans who know their form, and equally suits people who have never placed a bet in their lives but fancy a sociable evening out in fine surroundings.
The meeting gets underway at 5:10pm and typically carries six to seven races, mixing National Hunt and flat contests with prize money allocated by Horse Racing Ireland. The long summer evening light means you are rarely watching in the dark - racing here in August has a particularly pleasant feel to it.
Ballinrobe is the only racecourse in County Mayo and one of four in Connacht, so it carries a certain civic pride with it. The course is a right-handed oval, roughly a mile around, with a challenging uphill climb on the back straight and a descending run to the finish that tends to suit front-running horses. Once they turn for home there is about a furlong to go, which keeps the finishes tight and punchy.
The grandstand holds around 1,800 and was rebuilt after storm damage in 1992. A pavilion and the Coranna Restaurant are also on site for those who want to make a proper occasion of the evening. Free parking is available on and just outside the course. The venue won Horse Racing Ireland’s Racecourse of the Year in 2023, so the facilities are in good shape.
Ballinrobe sits in south-central County Mayo. By car it is about 25 minutes from Castlebar, 40 minutes from Westport, and around 50 minutes from Ballina. The N84 connects it to Castlebar and Galway. There is no regular train service to Ballinrobe, so a car or taxi is the practical option for most visitors. Parking on the day is free.
Ballinrobe itself is a compact market town on the River Robe, with a handful of good pubs and food options worth exploring before or after racing. There is more to see in Ballinrobe and across Co. Mayo.
Heading to Ballinrobe Racecourse in Ballinrobe? Mayo has plenty more to see. Read the Ballinrobe area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.