← All events
seasonal · Saturday 4 July 2026 · Various 
Naas Summer Saturday Raceday
At Naas Racecourse · Tipper Road, Naas, Co. Kildare
At Naas Racecourse · Tipper Road, Naas, Co. Kildare
Naas Racecourse runs one of the most straightforward great-day-out formats in Irish horse racing: a Saturday afternoon of flat racing, a proper outdoor BBQ from Lily & Wild, and live music after the last race. The 4 July meeting is the centrepiece of the 2026 summer series and draws a crowd that mixes serious racing fans with families who come as much for the atmosphere as for the form guide. If you have never been to a race meeting before, this is a good place to start - the scale is manageable, the crowd is good-humoured, and there is plenty happening beyond the track.
The afternoon is anchored by the Irish EBF Pat Smullen Stakes, a Listed race and part of a brand-new series honouring the late champion jockey Pat Smullen. Listed status means the field will be genuinely competitive - horses running here are a cut above a typical Saturday card. Alongside the main race, there are several supporting flat races through the afternoon.
For families, the racecourse puts on face painting and a mascot race for children - a kids’ novelty race that tends to be a highlight for younger visitors. After the racing wraps up, live music takes over, with Spring Break performing on the night. The food offer comes from Lily & Wild, whose summer BBQ has been a fixture at these events for the last couple of years. Hospitality packages with BBQ and grandstand access start from around €30 per person, and children under 18 get in free of charge.
Naas sits on the N7 Dublin-to-Limerick road, roughly 30 km south-west of Dublin city centre, and is easily reached by car in around 35 to 40 minutes from the capital outside of peak traffic. There is ample on-site parking at the racecourse on Tipper Road. Bus Eireann and Dublin Coach run regular services between Dublin and Naas town; from there, the racecourse is a short taxi or a 25-minute walk along Tipper Road. If you are travelling from elsewhere in Kildare, the racecourse is well signposted from the town centre.
Naas is a confident county town with a good range of cafes, pubs, and restaurants in the town square and along Main Street - worth a stop before or after the races if you are making a day of it. There is more to see in Naas and across Co. Kildare.
Heading to Naas Racecourse in Naas? Kildare has plenty more to see. Read the Naas area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.