horse racing antrim

The Down Royal Corporation of Horse Breeders was created in 1685 by Royal Charter from King James II, the objective being the encouragement of Horse breeding in the County of Down. The first racecourse was a 3 mile, undulating horseshoe shape at Downpatrick. One of the most famous horses ever to run there was "The Byerly Turk" one of the three foundation stallions of the Stud Book. Owned by Colonel Byerly, "The Byerly Turk" raced at Downpatrick in 1690 on the way to the Boyne where he joined...