| The venue is Leopardstown Racecourse. Built 120 | | | | race meetings: |
| years ago in 1888, Leopardstown Racecourse is | | | | Friday December 26th - The Durkan New Homes |
| probably the country's most famous race track. | | | | Novice Chase |
| It's located just 6 miles from Dublin city centre | | | | Saturday December 27th - The Paddy Power |
| and is surrounded by the stunning Dublin | | | | Chase |
| Mountains. | | | | Sunday December 28th - The Lexus Chase |
| Racing at the venue is always a huge crowd | | | | Sponsored by Lexus Ireland, The Lexus Chase is |
| pleaser and you're guaranteed a great day out, | | | | the highlight of the weekend, and certainly the |
| not just viewing the excellent quality of racing | | | | most lucrative. It has had an impressive honour |
| thoroughbreds on display, but with the top class | | | | roll of previous champions including Best Mate |
| facilities on offer at the impressive stadium as | | | | (2004), Beef or Salmon (2005) and the Listener |
| well. | | | | (2006). |
| Leopardstown Racecourse hosts over twenty | | | | The 2007 winner was Denman, who romped |
| major race meetings throughout the year, | | | | home in the race in great form and later took the |
| including the most popular of them all, the 4 day | | | | Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March 2008. Denman, |
| Christmas National Hunt Festival, plus the Irish | | | | with champion jockey Ruby Walsh, was born and |
| Champion Stakes. Not only will you get the | | | | bred in Fermoy County Cork by Colman O'Flynn. |
| opportunity to enjoy the thrill of the race, placing | | | | The prize money for the winner is reckoned to |
| bets and a great days sporting action, but you | | | | be a minimum prize value of EUR200,000. Interest |
| can also ''dress up to the 9's'' if you don't mind | | | | in this race is huge, and nearly 20,000 are |
| bracing yourself for the winter cold. | | | | expected to attend. You may well bump into |
| For the past few years, Christmas in Dublin has | | | | some well known Irish celebrities as well as plenty |
| been quite mild and the organisers are hopeful | | | | of sports personalities. |
| that this will be the case again this year, with | | | | Monday December 29th - The December Festival |
| crisp, dry weather conditions. | | | | Hurdle |
| In addition, Leopardstown offers not only | | | | How to get to Leopardstown... |
| fantastic entertainment at the races, but affords | | | | If you're travelling by car, there are two |
| time for relaxation and camaraderie at the large | | | | entrances to the racecourse on a race meeting |
| range of bars (Club 92 and Madigans) and | | | | day. The first one is on Leopardstown Road, and |
| restaurants (Silken Glider Restaurant, Fillies | | | | the second one at Carrickmines, with the |
| Café Bar and the Paddock Food Hall). | | | | entrance off the M50 at junction 15. |
| Other facilities at Leopardstown include a modern | | | | From Dublin city, take the M11 southbound and |
| conference centre with over 20 private and | | | | the Wexford Road, through Stillorgan. The next |
| exclusive suites, plus various hospitality rooms if | | | | route you need to get onto is the Leopardstown |
| you wish to organise a corporate event! The | | | | Road, the R113. |
| impressive Leopardstown Pavillion caters for larger | | | | If you're travelling from Belfast, Dublin Airport, |
| groups for corporate events. | | | | Limerick, Cork or Galway, you will be coming |
| This Year's Festival... | | | | from the major roads the M1, N2, N3, M4 and the |
| The 2008 National Hunt takes place over four | | | | N7. You must get onto the M50 southbound and |
| days at Leopardstown, and is a great way to get | | | | leave at junction 15 and follow the signposts for |
| out in the cool winter air and enjoy the | | | | Leopardstown. |
| excitement, and maybe place a bet or two! | | | | You can also take the Luas from St Stephens |
| In the past, some of the finest Irish riders | | | | Green to Sandyford/Brewery Road Station. It's |
| including Pat Taafe and Pat Eddery have raced at | | | | about a 20-minute journey. The Leopardstown |
| the event. And many icons of Irish horse racing | | | | Racecourse is only a short walk from here and on |
| such as Arkle, Dawn Run and current crowd | | | | race days there will be a number of |
| favourites Florida Pearl, and Istabraq have taken | | | | complimentary buses. |
| to the track and wowed the crowds. | | | | Busaras also provide a bus service to the |
| The Christmas Festival kicks off on St Stephens | | | | racecourse on race days. |
| Day 2008 and the following are the dates of the | | | | |