The site chosen was between Western Road and the north bank of the River Lee near the Wellington Bridge.

[5][6] In 1942 the chance to hold the Derby was taken despite the fact that Cork could not match the prize money offered by the Dublin tracks.

[7] The Oaks was held at the track twice in 1939 and 1943 and a competition originally named the Pegasus Cup was also introduced.

The Bord na gCon installed a new totalisator system at four tracks including Cork in 1960 and one year later the Laurels switched to the slightly longer distance of 525 yards.

They then purchased a green-field site in Curraheen on the western fringes of the city with the intention of building a brand new facility there.