Competitive racing to kick off Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival this Friday | The Curragh Racecourse
The Comer Group International Curragh Cup is the feature race on day one of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival

The Comer Group International Curragh Cup is the feature race on day one of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival

The Comer Group International Curragh Cup will be the feature race on day one of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival

The Group 2 contest has attracted 20 entries following this morning’s publication of entries and final forfeits including Master of Reality and Gear Up, other notable contenders also included Wordsworth, Thunder Kiss, Yaxeni, Manu El Corde, Temple of Artemis and Seattle Creek who is set to represent the race sponsor Luke Comer

There are 36 entries for the DNG Apprentice Jockeys Derby, the €30,000 contest is the most prestigious race for “future champion jockeys” in the Irish racing calendar.

There are 32 in the opening Brentford FC sponsors The Garden Province Irish EBF Maiden, 29 in the in the Westgrove Hotel Maiden, 26 in the Hollywoodbets We’re Painting Ireland Purple Handicap, 44 in the Hollywoodbets We’re Here to Take Over Handicap and 32 in the Hollywoodbets Shaping The Betting Experience Handicap

 

Entries

Link to Friday’s entries here

https://status.hri-ras.ie/entries/Microsoft_Word__2022_ONOR171.PDF?id=1&v=20220620121900

 

Entries and forfeits for Saturday and Sunday close 12 noon tomorrow

Declared runners:

Wednesday for Friday

Thursday for Saturday

Friday for Sunday

 

Ground

Following watering the ground is good, good to firm in places both round and straight tracks.

Watering will continue. Forecast dry and warm with possibility of light showers throughout the week. Racing on stand side, stalls in centre for all sprints

 

Gate Opening Times

Friday 3pm, first race 5pm

Saturday 11am, first race 1.25pm

Sunday 11.30am, first race 1.40pm

 

Where to watch

Racing TV – all 3 Days

RTE - Saturday and Sunday

ITV – DDF Irish Derby only

Other networks include

HPI TV (Canada), TVG, NYRA (US), DMI (MENA), SportsMax (Carib), Green (Japan), Equidia (France)

TJK (Turkey), Racing 240 (16 countries in Africa), Sky Racing (Australia), Trackside (New Zealand)

 

Transport

Trains to Kildare and Newbridge with free shuttle service with pick up locations in both towns 

Expressway service from Dublin – see expressway.ie

Free car parking

 

Admission

Special offers still available www.curragh.ie/tickets

 

Entertainment

The Curragh set to be alive with music at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival

The Curragh will be alive with the sound of music as musicians line up to entertain racegoers at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival this weekend

The action kicks off on Friday with an exciting seven race programme followed by “The Party after the last Race” featuring Qween, the ultimate Queen tribute band.

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day on Saturday will feature music acts throughout the venue with the Newbridge Gospel Choir welcoming racegoers at the start of the day, while NiteTrain, Bailey and Gordon and Roisin McAlindin will also perform during the afternoon. The superb Bunoscionn who originate from Rathangan, will bring their lively brand of music to the Green Zone of the venue (West End), while “the party after the last” will feature the brilliant Smash Hits

Army Band, Chloe Agnew of Celtic Women will be accompanied by the Army Band to perform the Curragh of Kildare before the big race

Dubai Duty Free Most Stylish Man and Lady competition in association with The K Club with judges’ Irish broadcaster, writer and impressionist Doireann Garrihy, together with presenter and Olympian Greg O’Shea who will be joined by Breeda McLoughlin, wife of Dubai Duty Free’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin, and Dubai Duty Free Style Ambassador Bairbre Power. 

Sunday is themed as a family day with eight top class races, while younger racegoers will be entertained in the Kids Zone with lots of free activities featuring Junior Jockey Club, Marvin The Magician, Junior Einstein, face painters and giant games

Sectional Timing

The Curragh will introduce the exciting innovation of publishing sectional timing with four races on each day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival
 

Racing TV to sponsor leading trainer and jockey awards of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival

The Curragh is pleased to announce that they will partner with Racing TV to recognise the leading jockey and trainer of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival which takes place from the 24th to 26th June.

The leading jockey will receive €1,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, plus a free five-year Racing TV subscription, while the leading trainer will also receive a free five-year subscription along with a celebratory breakfast for their staff. In the case of a tie, the winner will be decided on countback of second places, and then third places and so on.

Clive Cottrell, Director of Marketing, said: “Racing TV is delighted to back the awards for the leading participants at the prestigious Dubai Duty Free Festival, one of the real highlights of the Irish sporting calendar. We look forward to broadcasting three days of exceptional live sport, and bringing all the latest build-up, news, tips and analysis via our innovative and engaging broadcast and digital channels."

Evan Arkwright Racing and Sponsorship Manager of The Curragh commented: “We are delighted to work with Racing TV to acknowledge our most successful jockey and trainer of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival which will be very hotly contested with competitive racing guaranteed over three outstanding race days.”