Adams & Butler - Luxury Travel Experts
Tel +353-1-2889355
ireland@irishluxury.com
US Toll Free 1-800-8945712
Nothing beats the excitement of the races, and this is the perfect tour
for any horseracing fan! The trip includes a tour of the several
thoroughbred stables where you will get the chance to 
see the horses at close quarters.
There's a visit to The Horseracing Museum in Kildare, the headquarters of horse racing and the heart of the Irish bloodstock industry.
Every tour will have at least two afternoons in the Members' Enclosure at an
Irish racecourse with your own expert guide to help you pick a winner! The
exact itinerary depends on dates, as horse racing takes place all over Ireland -
see the calendar
(pdf document). Below we have a sample of what is
included.
In 2009 three of the top four horses in the world were trained in Ireland. Kildare’s reputation has attracted breeders from all over the world. The Aga Khan owns Ballymany Stud. Kildangan Stud is the palatial farm of Dubai’s Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, and his brother Sheik Hamdan set up Derrinstown Stud. Prince Khalid Abdullah has Juddmonte Farms. Horseracing in Ireland is known as "the sport of kings", and with good reason, too. In Celtic times, Brehon law dictated that it should be limited to princes and noblemen. It is mentioned in ancient Irish manuscripts - the beat of the hooves and the roar of the crowd have always thrilled the Irish race goer - come and be part of it!
Day 1
Arrive Dublin where your driver guide will meet you and bring you into the city centre. Relax at The Merrion Hotel, the finest hotel in the city, with an excellent Spa. In the afternoon an expert guide will give you a private short walking tour of the City to give you a sense of place, and show you the local sites. This evening consider a traditional night of music, dance and song.
Day 2
To Kildare to see the Irish National Stud in the morning, and a private stud farm and a training stable in the afternoon. Return to The Merrion for the night.
Day 3
Tour to Mount Juliet for the night. The stud here was founded in 1914
by 
Major Dermot McCalmont as a base for his champion racehorse The Tetrarch. The
stud is situated on 1,000 acres of exceptional land which has been farmed since
the Middle Ages by the monks of the nearby Jerpoint Abbey and later by the Earls
of Carrick. The McCalmont family enjoyed great success at Ballylinch and
developed several influential stallions including The Tetrarch, his son
Tetratema, and later Fortino (the sire of Caro) and Sassafras. They also
developed the highly successful family descending from the outstanding broodmare
Messopotamia, and in all bred eleven Classic winners at Ballylinch. Mount
Juliet, once the stately home of the Earl of Carrick, is now one of
Ireland's most prestigious hotels.
Day 4
Tour to Adare in the West of Ireland, an idyllic village with thatched houses, ancient abbeys and a castle on the banks of the River Maigue. On the way visit one of the top stables in Ireland and spend some time in Limerick. Limerick is a big industrial city, famous as the setting for Angela’s Ashes. Limerick Castle is a dramatic city fortress of Norman times standing guard over Limerick on the river Shannon. The castle was built in 1210 under orders from King John. It is one of the finest examples of fortified Norman architecture in Ireland With an imaginative exhibition, multi-vision show, excavations, war machines, 800 years of history unfold within its battlements. In the narrow streets that surround it are several small antique shops. Nearby is The Hunt collection, an internationally important Collection of some 2,000 original works of art and antiquity. It is a personal collection formed by John and Gertrude Hunt who selected each piece according to the quality of its design, craftsmanship and artistic merit - from the Stone Age to the Twentieth Century. Also of interest are The Georgian House & St Mary's Cathedral. Snuggled in a wooden and lush countryside setting, Adare is widely regarded as being Ireland’s prettiest and most picturesque village. Situated on the river Maigue, a tributary of the Shannon river, Adare (Gaelic name: "Ath Dara" - the "ford of the oak" - from the combination of water and woodland) dates back, at least, to the early 13th century. The bridge by which you enter the village, in the shadow of the ruined Desmond Castle, was built in 1329. Two groups of world famous ornate, thatched cottages line part off the village’s broad main street, punctuated with beautiful stone buildings, medieval monasteries and ruins. Your hotel for the night is the stunning stately Adare Manor.
Day 5
This morning enjoy the facilities of the hotel, and then spend the afternoon
at the race track. Your expert guide will bring you into the owners and trainers
enclosure where you will get to meet jockeys, owners and
trainers, and maybe even here a tip for a winner! Return to Adare for the
night.
Day 6
Head up to Galway, home of the Irish Hunter. On the way meet a horse whisperer, see some stunning scenery, visit a Horse museum. Overnight at the very luxurious and stylish designer hotel The G, in Galway city.
Day 7
Tour back to Dublin by way on one last race meeting. Overnight at The Merrion.
Day 8
Depart Dublin Airport
Your tour includes 7 nights accommodation including tax, service and breakfast, transport, all admissions, and two VIP days at the races.
With a driver guide and 5 star hotels as described prices start at €3400 per person.
With a self drive car and 5 star hotels as described prices start at €1700 per person
With a self drive car and 3 star hotels prices start at €950 per person
Adams & Butler - Luxury Travel Experts
Tel +353-1-2889355 Fax 353-1-2889282
ireland@irishluxury.com
US Toll Free 1-800-8945712