KILKENNY CALENDAR UPDATE AND NEWS
Ian Fortune
There are a couple of major changes to the RCÉcalendar for 2026 as far as Kilkenny track is concerned.
The Kilkenny Track Champion Open Unraced (Winner €15,000) will now start on April 3rd, 2026 as opposed to its normal slot in early May. That is certainly worthy noting with so many likely to target the famous unraced competition.
The Deadly Kennels McCalmont Cup A1 525 will start on February 27th, 2026, a week earlier than its normal start time. Start dates for other feature events at Kilkenny remain the same.
FRIDAY RACING ENDS THIS WEEK
Friday racing at Kilkenny ends this Friday December 19th and will return on Friday, January 9th.
There is no Wednesday racing on December 24th but there will be racing on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31st. The meeting will start at the earlier time of 10.11am. Weigh in will be from 9am to 9.40am.
Normal race times resume on Wednesday, January 7th. Trials as normal up to and including Monday, December 22nd and they then return after the Christmas break on Monday, January 5th. There will be no trials on Wednesday, December 31st.