Situated at Kilbeggan Races, Kilbeggan, Co.Westmeath N91 RK6P, in the heart of Ireland, 13 miles from the nearest larger town of Mullingar and 57 miles from the capital city of Dublin. It is surrounded by the three larger towns of Athlone, Mullingar, and Tullamore and is the natural center between these three towns, making it approximately 1 mile from the town center on the north side.

Racing commenced in the 1800s, but the first recorded race was in March 1840, when a group of local gentlemen organized a race in Kilbeggan for the Challenge Cup valued at 40 Guineas. Future racing was held periodically in various locations around the town after this time, but it was not a permanent fixture. However, in 1901, racing was revived at the present location, hosting races except for the war years 1941to 1945.

It is now the only racecourse in Ireland where horse racing is over jumps under national hunt rules by which one of five National Hunt (jumps) racecourses.  It is also more like a summer track where race meetings begin in mid-May and finish in mid-September.