Ireland’s Dedicated Horse Racing Station

Horse racing is part of the fabric of Irish life. From the Curragh to Leopardstown, from Punchestown to Galway, the sport draws thousands of fans every year. But for those who cannot make it to the track, there is another way to follow the action. Racing Radio Live brings the sport directly to listeners across Ireland and beyond.

This article looks at Racing Radio Live, its origins, what it offers to listeners, and why it matters for Irish racing fans.

What Is Racing Radio Live?

Racing Radio Live is an independent radio station dedicated to horse racing. It broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The station covers all racing across Ireland and Britain.

The station was founded by Dean Ryan, a Londoner who moved to Kildare. His father was a professional gambler. Ryan grew up around racing. He saw a gap in the market. There was no dedicated radio station for horse racing in Ireland .

Racing Radio Live is based in Newbridge, County Kildare. This is close to the Curragh, one of Ireland’s most famous racecourses. The location gives the station easy access to the heart of Irish racing .

The station launched in June 2014. Its first broadcast was on the opening day of Royal Ascot. Since then, it has grown steadily. Within ten weeks of launch, it had been heard in 76 countries. It had about 5,000 app downloads and roughly 50,000 interactions with the station .

The Story Behind Racing Radio Live

The idea for Racing Radio Live came from a simple observation. Dean Ryan noticed that horse racing had live events almost every day. Yet there was no radio station dedicated to the sport.

“I was kind of saying that it was so strange that there wasn’t a horse racing station,” Ryan said. “Which is crazy, because how many top sports have live products every day? Horse racing was the only one I could think of” .

Ryan believed there was a market for racing radio. Seven million people across Ireland and the UK went racing each year. Many of them could not watch every race. A radio station would let them follow the action wherever they were .

He enlisted the help of broadcaster Rory Burke from C103 in Cork. He also brought in racing expert Kevin Walsh. Together, they built Racing Radio Live from the ground up .

The station was described by one prominent racing journalist as a “no brainer” . Yet until Racing Radio Live launched, no one had done it.

What Racing Radio Live Offers

Racing Radio Live provides full live commentary from all race meetings across Ireland and Britain. The station has rights to stream from the courses. This means listeners often hear in-course commentary .

The station’s schedule is built around live racing. A presenter hosts live coverage before the first race of the day, usually around one o’clock. Coverage continues until the last race of the evening .

After the racing ends, the station airs its own shows. These include:

In the Weigh-in Room: This show features interviews with jockeys and trainers. It gives listeners insight into the people behind the horses.

Off the Track: This show covers industry-related topics and colour pieces. It looks at the wider world of racing.

The Aussie Hour: This show focuses on Australian racing. It features interviews with Australian jockeys, especially those with Irish heritage .

The station has interviewed many big names in racing. These include Davy Russell, Mick Winters, Donnacha O’Brien, and Joseph O’Brien . The commitment to quality content is evident in the interviews, analysis, and high standard of contributors. Regular contributors include Donn McClean, Rory Jiwani, Tom Lee, Rory Burke, Niall Cronin, Kevin Walsh, and former Grand National-winning jockey Niall “Slippers” Madden .

How to Listen to Racing Radio Live

There are several ways to listen to Racing Radio Live.

Online: The station streams live on its website. You can listen from any device with an internet connection.

Mobile App: Racing Radio Live has a free app available on Google Play and iTunes. The app lets you listen on your phone or tablet. It supports background play, so you can listen while using other apps .

In-Car: Many newer cars have DAB radios or smartphone integration. You can stream Racing Radio Live through your car’s sound system using your phone.

Smart Speakers: You can ask your smart speaker to play Racing Radio Live if the station is available on your platform.

The station is free to listen to. There are no subscription fees. This was a key goal for the founders. Before Racing Radio Live, punters not sitting in front of a screen had to call premium rate phone lines to hear race commentaries. Racing Radio Live provides the service completely free .

Why Racing Radio Live Matters for Irish Racing

Racing Radio Live fills an important gap in Irish sports media.

Dedicated Coverage: Before Racing Radio Live, there was no radio station dedicated solely to horse racing in Ireland. Racing fans had to rely on general sports stations that covered racing as part of a wider brief. Racing Radio Live gives the sport the focused attention it deserves.

Accessibility: Not everyone can get to the track. Not everyone has access to television coverage. Racing Radio Live makes racing accessible to anyone with a radio or an internet connection.

Grassroots Focus: Racing Radio Live has a commitment to grassroots racing. The station covers point-to-points and looks at young jockeys. It gives a platform to people in the industry who do not get regular media attention .

Industry Partnerships: Racing Radio Live has established partnerships within the racing industry. An arrangement with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) gave the station legitimacy. A partnership with irishracing.com gave it a kick-start by connecting it to a large audience .

Global Reach: Racing Radio Live has been heard in 76 countries. This means Irish racing fans living abroad can stay connected to the sport. It also promotes Irish racing to an international audience .

The Team Behind Racing Radio Live

Racing Radio Live is a small operation. Dean Ryan leads the station. He is the founder and driving force.

Rory Burke is a broadcaster from C103 in Cork. He brings radio experience to the team .

Kevin Walsh is a racing expert. He provides knowledge and insight into the sport .

The station also relies on contributions from racing journalists, former jockeys, and industry figures. Donn McClean is a well-known racing analyst. Niall “Slippers” Madden is a former Grand National-winning jockey. Their involvement adds credibility and depth to the station’s output .

The team is small but dedicated. They produce live coverage seven days a week. They create original shows. They interview the biggest names in racing. It is a significant amount of work for a small team.

Racing Radio Live in the Wider Radio Landscape

Racing Radio Live operates in a competitive radio market. But it occupies a unique space.

Other stations cover racing as part of their sports output. RTÉ Radio 1 provides racing updates. Newstalk covers racing news. Regional stations like Galway Bay FM have racing segments .

But no other station provides dedicated 24/7 racing coverage. Racing Radio Live is the only independent horse racing station in Ireland .

There are also apps that aggregate racing radio stations. “Racing Radio” on the App Store offers live UK and Australian racing commentary. It includes channels like Betfair Radio, William Hill Racing, and Betfair Greyhounds . These apps complement what Racing Radio Live offers. They give listeners more choice.

For Irish racing fans, Racing Radio Live is the home station. It is Irish-owned. It is based in Ireland. It focuses on Irish and British racing. It is part of the Irish racing community.

The Challenges of Running a Racing Station

Running a dedicated racing radio station is not easy. Dean Ryan acknowledged the challenges from the start.

“When I was saying ‘Let’s do something for racing’ they were saying there was too much politics involved, too many cliques, too many different organisations and that this kind of thing would need to be done by a big brand,” Ryan said .

Racing is a complex sport. There are many organisations involved. There are politics. There are established interests. Building a new media outlet in this space is difficult.

Ryan also noted that the market is saturated by big brands. Bookmakers and large media companies dominate racing coverage. A small independent station has to work hard to get noticed .

But Ryan was not deterred. He believed racing needed a radio station. He was determined to make it work.

“The first thing you need to do is educate people that it exists and how to listen to it,” he said. “That’s still filtering through” .

What Listeners Say About Racing Radio Live

Racing Radio Live has built a loyal following. Listeners appreciate the dedicated coverage. They value the ability to follow racing wherever they are.

The station has received positive feedback from the racing community. Industry figures have appeared on the station. Jockeys and trainers have given interviews. This shows that the station is respected within the sport.

The app has been downloaded thousands of times. The station has been heard in 76 countries. These are signs of a successful operation .

Racing Radio Live has also been recognised by the Irish Examiner. The newspaper described the station as filling a gap that had existed for too long .

The Future of Racing Radio Live

What does the future hold for Racing Radio Live?

The station has established itself as a key part of Irish racing media. It has partnerships with Horse Racing Ireland and irishracing.com. It has a loyal audience. It has a proven format.

There is room for growth. The station could expand its coverage. It could add more shows. It could reach more listeners through new platforms.

The growth of DAB+ radio in Ireland could help. As more people get DAB+ radios, more people can access digital stations. Racing Radio Live could benefit from this trend.

There is also potential for international expansion. The station already reaches a global audience. It could build on this by adding more international coverage.

But the core mission will remain the same. Racing Radio Live exists to serve racing fans. It provides live commentary, analysis, and interviews. It brings the sport to people who cannot be at the track. That is its purpose. That is what it does.

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Key Facts About Racing Radio Live

Question	Answer
What is Racing Radio Live?	An independent Irish horse racing radio station
When did it launch?	June 2014
Who founded it?	Dean Ryan
Where is it based?	Newbridge, County Kildare
What does it cover?	All racing across Ireland and Britain
How can I listen?	Website, mobile app, smart speakers
Is it free?	Yes, completely free
What shows does it have?	In the Weigh-in Room, Off the Track, The Aussie Hour
Who has been interviewed?	Davy Russell, Donnacha O’Brien, Joseph O’Brien
How many countries has it reached?	76 countries

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Final Words

Racing Radio Live is a success story in Irish radio. It was founded by one man with a passion for racing. It has grown into a station that reaches listeners around the world.

For Irish racing fans, Racing Radio Live is a vital service. It provides live commentary from every race meeting in Ireland and Britain. It offers interviews with the biggest names in the sport. It covers grassroots racing. And it is free to listen to.

The station faces challenges. The radio market is competitive. Big brands dominate. But Racing Radio Live has found its place. It serves a dedicated audience. It fills a gap that needed filling.

If you are a racing fan, Racing Radio Live is worth checking out. Whether you are at home, in the car, or on the go, the station brings the sport to you. It is Irish racing radio at its best.

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