Style Stakes set to attract a competitive field
The Dubai Duty-Free Irish Derby Festival is the highlight of the Irish flat racing season, combining high-quality horse racing with family fun, style, music and food. The three-day extravaganza takes place this year from Friday, June 30th to Sunday, July 2nd, with the 158th running of our premier classic on Sunday, the final day of the meeting.
Sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, one of the world’s leading airport retailers, since 2008, the festival renowned across the nation for its high-octane glamour and style, celebrities, fun seekers and racing enthusiasts in attendance.
The country’s top horses and jockeys will compete across the three days of the festival while the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Sunday 2nd July will attract the crème de la crème of the international equine world, all competing to win the jewel in the crown of Irish racing and one of the ultimate and most valuable accolades in Irish sport.
Friday, June 30th is a lively evening race meeting with great racing including the JJ Mahon & Sons Premier Handicap and the Silken Thomas and Lock 13 Apprentice Derby. A live performance from QWEEN who will rock The Curragh on Funky Friday with their brilliant authentic and much-acclaimed show after racing on the parade ring plaza stage. They have wowed audiences with a theatrical show that brings the audience right back in time to the front row of a classic Queen gig performing all their best-known songs.
Festival Quater
Saturday features the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes, the Kildare Village Ladies Derby and Lea Heart playing live after racing in our new Festival Quarter, which overlooks the Parade Ring. There will be a variety of free activities for younger racegoers on Saturday and Sunday on Derby Lawn which is located in the west end of the venue.
Sunday, is Derby Day and Ladies Day! It will feature the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Most Stylish competition in association with The K Club. This year sees two incredible competition prizes on offer courtesy of Dubai Duty Free and The K Club.
As well as being crowned ‘Most Stylish’ on the day, one lucky lady will receive return flights for two to Dubai with five glorious nights in Dubai Duty Free’s own five-star hotel, The Jumeirah Creekside, as well as €1,000 in spending money at the award-winning airport retailer. Back on home soil, the winner and a guest will also be treated to a two-night stay in a luxurious suite at The K Club with breakfast each morning, dinner on one evening in The Barton restaurant, a 50-minute spa treatment each in The K Spa, plus transfers to or from Dublin Airport (if required).
The prize for Most Stylish Man is a fantastic five-star K Club VIP experience which includes two nights in a luxury suite with breakfast each morning, dinner on both evenings in two of the resort’s beautiful restaurants, The Barton and South, and a long list of fabulous resort activities including two hours of the unique simulator experience in K Golf World, 50 minute spa treatment, whiskey tasting for two, a choice of horse riding, clay-pigeon shooting, archery or air rifle shooting, and a €500 voucher to spend at nearby Kildare Village.
The fabulous Spring Break will continue the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day Party on Sunday playing all the hits of the 90’s and much more in the new Festival Quarter.
The Association of Irish Racecourses would also like to wish Racecourse Manager, Brian Kavanagh and all the staff at The Curragh the very best for their upcoming festival. For further information and to book tickets visit thecurragh.ie.
