The Limestone Lad Hurdle is a Grade 3
National Hunt
National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches.
In ...
hurdle race in Ireland which is open to
horses
The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 milli ...
aged five years and over.
It is run at
Naas
Naas ( ; or ) is the county town of County Kildare in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In 2022, it had a population of 26,180, making it the largest town in County Kildare (ahead of Newbridge, County Kildare, Newbridge) and the List of urban ar ...
over a distance of 2 miles (3,219 metres) and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in January.
The race was first run in 1999, as the Bank of Ireland Hurdle. It was renamed in 2008 to honour
Limestone Lad, who was second in the first running of the race and then won the next three runnings. Prior to 2017 it was run over 2 miles and 3 furlongs.
The race was awarded Grade 3 status in 2011.
Records
Most successful horse (3 wins):
*
Limestone Lad – ''2000, 2001, 2002''
Leading
jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...
(7 wins):
*
Paul Townend
Paul Townend (born 15 September 1990) is an Irish people, Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. From Lisgoold in County Cork, he has been attached to the yard of Irish trainer Willie Mullins since he was fifteen, beginning his care ...
- ''Mikael D'Haguenet (2012), Sandsend (2018), Stormy Ireland (2020), Bachasson (2021), Echoes In Rain (2023), Zarak The Brave (2024), Anzadam (2025) ''
Leading
trainer (8 wins):
*
Willie Mullins
William Peter Mullins (born 15 September 1956) is an Irish racehorse horse trainer, trainer and former jockey. He is a nineteen-time List of Irish National Hunt races, Irish National Hunt Champion trainer. Mullins is the most successful traine ...
- '' Mikael D'Haguenet (2012), Sempre Medici (2016), Sandsend (2018), Stormy Ireland (2020), Bachasson (2021), Echoes In Rain (2023), Zarak The Brave (2024), Anzadam (2025) ''
Winners
See also
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Horse racing in Ireland
Horse racing in Ireland is intricately linked with Culture of Ireland, Irish culture and society. The racing of horses has a long history on the island, being mentioned in some of the Irish mythology, earliest texts. Domestically, racing is on ...
*
List of Irish National Hunt races
A list of notable National Hunt racing, National Hunt Horse racing, horse races which take place annually in Ireland, under the authority of Horse Racing Ireland, including all races which currently hold Grade 1 or Grade 2 status.
Grade 1
Grade ...
References
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Racing Post
''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing, and sports betting publisher published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 60,629 ...
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National Hunt hurdle races
National Hunt races in Ireland
Naas Racecourse
Horse races established in 1999
1999 establishments in Ireland