Thurles racecourse has closed with immediate effect. The Molony family, who have owned and operated Ireland’s only privately owned racecourse for over 100 years, announced the sudden closure of the historic venue on Friday. Riona Molony confirmed the news, marking the end of a long legacy in Tipperary racing history.
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End of a Racing Era in Tipperary
Founded in 1732, Thurles is one of just three racecourses in County Tipperary and is especially respected in the National Hunt community. Known for handling heavy rainfall and reliably hosting winter meetings, Thurles built a reputation for resilience. However, its natural strengths became a disadvantage last season when dry conditions led to fixture cancellations. Without an irrigation system, the course struggled to maintain safe ground conditions, which affected both races and schooling events.
Cancelled Fixtures and Financial Pressure
Though Thurles was licensed to hold races through the end of 2025 and had 11 fixtures lined up for the 2025/26 season, all scheduled meetings have now been scrapped. Financial strain is among the key reasons cited for the closure. Operating a racecourse has grown increasingly expensive, and keeping up with industry demands proved difficult for the family-run venue.
Media Rights Talks and Industry Shifts
In 2023, Thurles joined four other tracks—Limerick, Kilbeggan, Roscommon, and Sligo—to form the breakaway group United Irish Racecourses. They aimed to negotiate better media rights terms, possibly shifting coverage from Racing TV to Sky Sports. But the five eventually aligned with the other 21 Irish tracks in signing a media deal with Racecourse Media Group and SIS, valued at around €47 million annually.
A Message of Gratitude and Goodbye
In her farewell statement, Riona Molony expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone involved with the racecourse over the years. She acknowledged the role of her late husband Pierce, their four daughters, dedicated staff, sponsors, and racing fans. Since Pierce’s passing in 2015, the family had worked hard to continue his legacy, but with each daughter now pursuing her own path, stepping away became the right decision. She noted that industry pressures and rising costs also played a major role in the closure.
Home of Historic Races
Thurles was known for hosting three Grade Two races each year, including the prestigious Kinloch Brae Chase. The event drew top-class competitors like Native Upmanship, Newmill, Hi Cloy, and Don Cossack, further cementing the track’s place in Irish racing history.
