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seasonal · Thursday 2 July 2026 · Various 
Bellewstown Summer Racing Festival 2026
At Bellewstown Racecourse · Bellewstown, Co. Meath
At Bellewstown Racecourse · Bellewstown, Co. Meath
Three evenings of racing on a hilltop in County Meath, with the Boyne Valley spread out below and the Mournes visible on a clear day to the north - the Bellewstown Summer Racing Festival is one of those events that feels properly Irish in the best sense. It has been running since at least 1726, making it one of the oldest race meetings in the country, and the format has not changed much: flat and hurdle racing, a fairground, ice cream vans, and a crowd that comes as much for the occasion as the odds. Families, casual punters, and serious racing followers all find something here across the three days.
Racing takes place each evening from Thursday 2 July to Saturday 4 July 2026, with the programme typically starting around 5pm and finishing before 9pm. The course itself is a one-mile left-handed circuit with both flat and hurdle races on the card. Because the course sits high on the Hill of Crockafotha, the atmosphere is unusually open - you can follow the horses across the full circuit from almost anywhere on the hill, which suits the informal standing-crowd style of the meeting.
The course keeps the traditional fairground and food vendor setup - burgers, fish and chips, ice cream - rather than leaning on corporate hospitality. There is a Tote on site. Hospitality packages are available through the racecourse if you want a covered table and a meal, and include race cards and bar access with live music after racing.
Tickets are priced from €15, available online at bellewstownraces.ie or at the gate. Parking on site is free.
Bellewstown is about 8 km south of Drogheda off the R108, roughly 40 minutes from Dublin by car. The approach road is rural and the racecourse sits above the village, so signposting from the main road is your guide. A bus shuttle from Drogheda typically runs on race days - check bellewstownraces.ie for the current timetable closer to the date, as it is confirmed annually. On-site parking is free and well-organised for the volume.
The area around Bellewstown sits within the wider Boyne Valley, one of the most historically layered parts of Ireland - Newgrange, the Hill of Tara, and the Battle of the Boyne site are all within a short drive. There is more to see in Bellewstown and across Co. Meath.
Heading to Bellewstown Racecourse in Bellewstown? Meath has plenty more to see. Read the Bellewstown area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.