History

Earliest records are of racing in 1732; a 3-day meeting in June is spoken of in "pues occurances" in Trinity College library.

In the early years of the last century, the late Pierce Molony took over the running of the races from a local committee. This committee had been running the races for a long number of years with the co-operation and support of the Molony family.

In those early years of the last century there were four meetings per year in February, April, June and November. The local community were as important in those years as in the present day. The racecourse had only 20 or so stables, and travelling the day before racing was common place. Extra stables were provided by neighbours, Matty Maher, Tommy Hickey, Capt.Goodman, Pat Carey and in the town by Timmy Shelley, Dr.Tom Barry and Hugh Ryan, the latter being the local undertaker.

Thurles racecourse was never purpose built. It has developed or evolved over the years. A hundred years ago double, single and drop banks were common place, the only remaining bank is a single, which is located close to the fourth last fence. There was no continous running rail or plastic wings, the hurdles had no padding on the top bar. Things have changed.
Developments have been ongoing through the years, not just on the racetrack, but also in relation to facilities for the patrons and professionals involved to bring the racecourse to the standard that is required today.