New book launched to mark 100th anniversary of Naas Racecourse

An important new book launched this week will mark the 100th anniversary of Naas Racecourse.

The Centenary of Naas Racecourse, written by historian Turtle Bunbury, traces the evolution of the track from a humble field on the outskirts of a bustling Irish market town to its present-day status as one of Europe’s best-loved boutique racecourses.

It focuses on some of the most fascinating and successful horses to have competed on the track, as well as the jockeys, trainers, owners and spectators who have accompanied them.

Established in 1924, Naas is renowned as a nursery of champions for both National Hunt and the Flat.

The numbers speak for themselves:

The winners of 30 Aintree Grand Nationals, 27 Cheltenham Gold Cups and eight King George VI Chases have honed their skills at Naas.

In the past four years alone, horses have gone from Naas to the Cheltenham Festival and won the Gold Cup, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the Triumph Hurdle and the Queen Mother Champion Chase twice.

The Flat yields similarly excellent results. Little Big Bear, rated the best European two-year-old in 2022, won his maiden at Naas. So did Auguste Rodin, winner of the 2023 Epsom Derby.

Since 2020, the Epsom Oaks, the English 2,000 Guineas, the English 1,000 Guineas, the Melbourne Cup and four Breeders’ Cups have also been won by horses that have pounded around the track at Naas.

Naas Racecourse chairman Dermot Cantillon said he expects the book to have a wide appeal as it is a social history of Naas and its people as well as the story of the racecourse.

He said the original directors of the racecourse had very diverse backgrounds and came together for the sake of sport and racing.

He explained: “The founding fathers were nearly all business people rather than landed gentry, they were part of the new middle class.”

The book charts the history of the track over the last century with significant information and photographs of each decade included throughout.

This fascinating publication also tells the story of the farmers and sportsmen who founded the racecourse, and touches on some of the politicians, film stars and royals who have rubbed shoulders on the track during the past century.

Available

The lavishly illustrated book is an ideal Christmas present and can be purchased on www.naasracecourse.com.