Records indicate that racing took place in the County Down town of Downpatrick as early as 1685, administered by the Down Royal Corporation of Horsebreeders which was created by King James II in a Royal Charter in that same year. The Corporation’s records indicate that the great stallion, The Byerley Turk, one of the three founding fathers of modern horseracing, took part in a race at Downpatrick in 1690. What is undisputed is that the Byerley Turk was Colonel Robert Byerley's charger at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The Down Royal Corporation continued to use Downpatrick until 1789, after which it made use of Maze, which later became Down Royal. Although racing lapsed in 1867, a new course opened in beautiful countryside in 1870, about a mile from the town centre, when meetings were billed as County Down Hunt races. After the Second World War in 1945 the meetings were relaunched as Downpatrick races. On 6th April 1962 the Queen Mother visited Downpatrick to witness her horse Laffy win the Ulster Grand National. The principal race is the Ulster National Handicap Chase which is now run over 3 miles 4 ½ furlongs, although the inaugural running in 1939 was over 3 miles 3 furlongs, when won by 25/1 outsider Ballyhooley owned by Mr Dick Sheehan, trained by Cecil Brabazon and ridden by E Kennedy. The full result of the first Ulster Grand National is shown below. Currently the course stages 9 fixtures annually.
Ballymoney is a small town in County Antrim located between Coleraine and Ballymena. It can trace its first races to 1762 when a 4 day meeting was held from Monday 2nd to Thursday 4th August. Races were held intermittently after this inaugural meeting on a range of courses within the vicinity of the town, always receiving the support of Lord Mount Eagle. In the middle of the 19th century the Magennis Cup was introduced and was won for 3 consecutive years from 1843 to 1845 by Redwood. In the 1860s the races became known as the Route Hunt races. The final record of a meeting was on Wednesday 28th January 1880 on fields owned by Mr R M Douglas, although the racing by this stage had become mediocre.
Monday 2nd August 1762
Ballymoney Stakes for Irish Bred horses over 3 miles
1. Executioner owned by Mr Lill
2. Nesgull owned by Mr Stuard
3. Unnamed mare owned by Mr Hutchinson
Inaugural Ulster Grand National (300 sovereigns) over 3 miles 3 furlongs
Wednesday 17th May 1939
1. Ballyhooley (25/1) ridden by E Kennedy
2. Pontet (7/2) ridden by J C Parkinson
3. Little Ant (25/1) ridden by J McCarthy
4. Brighter Cottage (5/1) ridden by J Moloney
5. Tommy Priestley (25/1) ridden by P J Murphy
6. Sterling Duke (7/4 fav) ridden by T Hyde
7. My Branch (25/1) ridden by E Dempsey
8. Palm Olive (8/1) ridden by Dan L Moore
9. Sin Not (10/1) ridden by M C Prendergast
10. Clatterbox (25/1) ridden by M Gordon
11. Brighter Tangerine (25/1) ridden by Mr F Fitzsimons
The Ulster National Handicap Chase is run over 3 miles 4 ½ furlongs, with a list of recent winners shown below:-
2019 The Ulster National was won by Amaulino (8/1) trained by Keith Watson and ridden by Mr Andrew Ring, beating School Lane and Danse Away
2018 The Ulster National was won by Poorman’s Hill (11/4) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy
2017 The Ulster National was won by Anseanachai Cliste (8/1) owned by Michael McConville, trained by Stephen McConville and ridden by Dylan Robinson
2016 The Ulster National was won by Federici (7/1) trained by Enda Bolger and ridden by Adrian Heskin, beating The Mooch (10/1) and Futuramic (7/2)
2015 The Ulster National was won by Riverside City (9/1) trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Davy Condon
2014 The Ulster National was won by Hidden Horizons (7/1) trained by Stewart Crawford and ridden by Paul Carberry, beating Unoccupied trained by Eoghan O’Grady and ridden by Phillip Enright
2013 The Ulster National was won by Pineau De Re (13/2) trained by Philip Fenton and ridden by D Mullins
2012 The Ulster National was won by Duroob (8/1) owned by Rita Shah, trained by Patrick O’Brady and ridden by Adrian Heskin, beating Talab
2011 The Ulster National was won by Hughies Grey (8/1) trained by Mervyn Torrens and ridden by M Darcy
2010 The Ulster National was won by Chief Oscar (16/1) owned by Bobby Donaldson, trained by Brian Hamilton and ridden by Andrew Lynch, beating Bally Wall
2009 The Ulster National was won by Ballytrim (8/1) owned by Mrs Violet O’Leary, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, beating Rossbergh (9/1) and Tawnies (6/1)
2008 The Ulster National was won by Well Run (6/1) trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Paul Carberry
2007 The Ulster National was won by News Item (4/1) trained by George Stewart and ridden by Joe Farrelly
2006 The Ulster National was won by News Item (6/1) trained by George Stewart and ridden by Davy Russell
2005 The Ulster National was won by Native Beat (12/1) trained by J Fowler and ridden by T Ryan
2004 The Ulster National was won by Lanmire Glen (13/8 fav) trained by Francis Flood and ridden by Ruby Walsh
2003 The Ulster National was won by Lancero (8/1) trained by J Maxwell and ridden by David Casey, beating Back In Thyne (8/1) trained by Enda Bolger and ridden by Robbie Power, with Fanion De Neulliac (8/1) trained by Arthur Moore and ridden by D Howard in third
2002 The Ulster National was won by Back In Thyne (7/2) trained by Enda Bolger and ridden by M P Madden
2001 The Ulster National was not contested
2000 The Ulster National was won by lavica (4/1) trained by Donal Hayes and ridden by Mr A K Wyse
1999 The Ulster National was won by Brians Delight (5/1) trained by Michael Cunningham and ridden by S M McGovern
1998 The Ulster National was won by Ontheroadagain (14/1) trained by M O’Brien and ridden by T P Rudd
1997 The Ulster National was won by Teal Bridge (6/1) trained by Andrew Heffernan and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer
1996 The Ulster National was won by Johneen trained by Rosemary Rooney
1995 The Ulster National was won by Three Brownies (14/1) owned by Mrs A Daly, trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer, beating Another Excuse (8/1) owned by the Kilshannig Racing Syndicate and ridden by Mr W O’Sullivan, with La Greine (11/2) owned by Mr T Bushe and ridden by Charlie Swan in third
1994 The Ulster National was won by Merlyn’s Choice owned by Mr J Keogh, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by T Horgan, beating Il Travatore trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Paul Carberry, with Green Times trained by Michael Cunningham and ridden by Charlie Swan in third
1992 The Ulster National was won by Market Mover (8/1) owned by Racing Management Services, trained by Dessie Hughes and ridden by Charlie Swan, beating Lacken Beau (5/2) owned by Mr B E Mercer, trained by Ian Ferguson and ridden by Mr L J Gracey, with Wee Madge (8/1) owned by Mrs Y Rock, trained by W Rock and ridden by P L Malone in third
1991 The Ulster National was won by Treat Me Good (10/1) trained by Sylvester Kirk, ridden by Conor O’Dwyer and owned by Mr Hoy
1990 The Ulster National was won by Peacock Royale bred by Keith Watson
1940 The Ulster Grand National was won by Knockadroleen (4/1) owned by Miss B Kearns, trained by Kearns and ridden by Mr W Willis, beating My Branch (5/1) ridden by Eddie Dempsey and Upshot (3/1 fav) ridden by T Hyde
1939 The inaugural Ulster Grand National was won by Ballyhooley (25/1) owned by Mr Dich Sheehan, trained by Cecil Brabazon and ridden by E Kennedy, beating Pontet (7/2) ridden by J C Parkinson and Little Ant (25/1) ridden by J McCarthy 11 ran
1945 The Ulster National was won by Caughoo owned by Mr J J McDowell, trained by Herbert McDowell and ridden by Eddie Dempsey
1942-1944 The Ulster National was not contested due to the Second World War
1948 The Ulster National was won by Silent Prayer (2/1 fav) owned by Mr A J Cope and ridden by Martin Molony, beating Kilkenny (100/8) ridden by Mr W E Rooney and Caughoo (10/1) ridden by Eddie Dempsey
1947 The Ulster National was won by Charles Edward owned by Mr R McIlhagga
1953 The Ulster National was won by Killala (100/8) beating My Icicle (5/1) and Polish Corridor (33/1)
1952 The Ulster National was won by Happy River (4/1) owned by Mrs P P Hogan and ridden by P J Doyle, beating Fort Wayne (10/1) ridden by B O’Neill and Silver Top (9/4 jf ridden by Pat Taaffe
1951 The Ulster National was won by Miss Steel (5/1) owned by Mr F V Svejdar, trained by Dan L Moore and ridden by T P Burns, beating Aaron’s Rod (6/1) ridden by B O’Neill and Happy River (4/1 fav) ridden by T Molony
1950 The Ulster National was won by Hasty Bits (5/4 fav) owned by Mr H F Kenny, trained by Tom Dreaper and ridden by Martin Molony, beating Tory Top (4/1) ridden by P Norris and Aaron’s Rod (10/1) ridden by M Browne
1963 The Ulster Harp National was won by Flying Wild owned by Mr Raymond Guest and trained by Dan Moore
1962 The newly introduced Ulster Harp National was won by Laffy owned by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
1957 – 1961 The Ulster National was not contested during these years
1956 The Ulster Handicap Steeplechase (replacing the Ulster National) was won by Hopeful Colleen owned by Mr J Graham, beating La Tinta owned by Mr R Patton
1955 The Ulster National meeting was abandoned due to heavy snow
1966 The Ulster Harp National was won by Night Ace (4/1 fav) owned by Mr J Macauley, trained by T L Crawford and ridden by C Kinnane, beating La Vulgan (6/1) and Me Oul Segocia (9/1) ridden by Tommy Roe
1965 The Ulster Harp National was won by Me Oul Segocia owned, trained and ridden by Mr Tommy Frank Roe
1971 The Ulster Harp National was won by King Vulgan (6/1) owned and trained by Mr John Costelloe and ridden by J Crowley, beating Common Entrance (12/1) and Gay Buccaneer (5/1)
1970 The Ulster Harp National was won by Money Boat trained by C B Harty and ridden by J P Harty, beating Golden Guinea II trained by Waring Willis and Bright Trick trained and ridden by Mr F Fitzsimons
1974 The Ulster Harp National was not contested due to severe damage to the grandstand roof, stables and outbuildings. At this point in time the future of the racecourse was threatened.
1973 The Ulster Harp National was not contested because the course suffered fire damage, 3 hurdles were burned and the IRA Provisionals claimed that the course was boobytrapped
1978 The Ulster Harp National was won by Inishowen trained by Waring Willis and ridden by Tommy Carberry, beating Poll’s Turn
1977 The Ulster Harp National was won by Mr Midland (8/1) trained by Eddie O’Grady and ridden by T Ryan, beating Romanogan (3/1) and Tullyallen (15/8 fav)
1981 The Ulster Harp National was won by Champerty owned by Danny Hale, trained by Arthur Moore and ridden by Mick Ennis
1980 The Ulster National was won by Champerty owned by Danny Hale, trained by Arthur Moore and ridden by Ann Ferris
1984 The Ulster Harp National was won by Bentom Boy trained by Willie Rooney and ridden by Mrs Ann Ferris, beating Excursion
1983 The Ulster Harp National was won by Jamey’s Fancy (12/1) trained by Horace McKinley and ridden by R Balfour, beating Bonnie Son (8/1) trained by Basil Brindley and ridden by Michael Cummins, with Castle Haven (5/1) in third
1988 The Ulster Harp National was won by Captain Batnac owned by J Stirling, beating Flame Dance trained by George Stewart
1987 The Ulster Harp National was won by General Joy (11/2) owned by Dr J F O’Reilly, trained by John Harty and ridden by T G McCourt, beating Captain Batnac (9/4 fav) owned by J Stirling and ridden by C O’Dwyer, with Lady Mearlane (8/1) owned by R Fletcher and trained and ridden by T O’Neill in third
