Everything you need to know about the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby this weekend

DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH DERBY

WEEKEND

‘FUNKY’ FRIDAY, JUNE 30th

3.30 Gates open

3.30-4.30 YouthINK peformance (main entrance)

Performance continues on Derby terrace during evening

3.30-5.00 Naas Hospital Choir (main entrance)

5.00 Cunninghams of Kildare Maiden

5.35 Kildare House Hotel Maiden

6.05 Hartes Group Handicap

6.40 Silken Thomas & Lock 13 Apprentice Derby

7.15 O’Dooles Restaurant Maiden

7.50 J.J. Mahon & Sons Premier Handicap

8.25 Harp Bar, Kildare Handicap

8.30 Qween in concert (Champions Hall)

‘STYLE DAY’ SATURDAY, JULY 1ST

11.30 Gates open

11.30 Newbridge Gospel Choir (main entrance)

12.45 Paddy Power ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ raceday preview(parade ring)

1.40 Barronstown Stud Maiden

2.15 Airlie Stud Stakes (Group 2)

2.50 Sherry Fitzgerald Country Homes Handicap

3.25 Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1)

4.00 Paddy Power International Stakes (Group 3)

4.35 Kildare Village Ladies Derby

5.10 Ornella Underwriting Bloodstock & Equine Insurance Maiden

5.40 DMG Media Handicap

5.45 Lea Heart in concert (Festival Quarter)

DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH DERBY DAY, SUNDAY,

JULY 2nd

11.00 Gates open

11.30-1.00 YouthINK performance (main entrance)

11.30 Newbridge Gospel Choir (entrance)

1.00 Paddy Power ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ raceday preview

1.50 GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2)

2.25 ARM Holding Dash (Listed)

2.30 Dubai Duty Free Most Stylish competition in association

with The K Club (Festival Quarter)

3.00 Dubai Duty Free Rockingham Handicap

3.10 National Anthems of UAE and Ireland performed, and fly-past

by the Air Corp of the Irish Defence Forces

Military police bring Irish Derby trophy to parade ring, with jockeys

3.25 ‘Let The Roar Begin’ performed by Paul Linehan accompanied by the Newbridge Gospel Choir

3.40 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1)

Fanfare performed by Portarlington concert band

4.15 Dubai Duty Free Derby Festival Handicap

4.50 Dubai Duty Free Summer Fillies Handicap

5.25 Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes (Listed)

6.00 Dubai Duty Free Ragusa Handicap

ADMISSION PRICES

Admission on the Friday night will cost €20 on the day but tickets can be secured for just €15 online now.

Saturday admission is €25 on the day but just €20 if purchased in advance.

On Irish Derby day the turnstile price is €40 and, again, there’s a €5 discount for early shoppers.

There are also reduced prices for seniors and those under 25 while all under

18s are admitted free when accompanied by an adult on all 3 days

Friday raceday ticket prices

Adult admission €20

Seniors & under 25s €15

Under 18s free accompanied by an adult

Saturday raceday ticket prices

Adult admission €25

Seniors & under 25s €15

Under 18s free accompanied by an adult

Sunday raceday ticket prices

Adult admission €40

Seniors & under 25s €25

Under 18s free accompanied by an adult

Curragh Bundles (buy in advance)

Includes admission, racecard, €10 food voucher and €5 Tote bet

Friday €28

Saturday €33

Sunday €48

Curragh Picnics (buy in advance)

Featuring a variety of delicious savoury and sweet snacks and treats for two.

Available on Saturday and Sunday €54.99

Hospitality packages

Limited places still available.  Please contact a member of the Curragh hospitality team.

Web: curragh.ie

Email: info@curragh.ie

Tel: 045 441205

Social: Like on ‘TheCurraghRacecourse’

on Facebook.

Follow @CurraghRace on Twitter and

Instagram using #DFFIrishDerby

FREE SHUTTLE BUS

THE Curragh offers a free shuttle bus service  from Newbridge, picking up at the train station and outside Riverbank Theatre and Eddie Rockets in the Main Street. From Kildare, the shuttles  pick up at the train station and in the Square at the bus stop. A free service from Naas collects at Poplar Square. This initiative is sponsored by  Manguard Plus.

Expressway offer a direct bus return service from Dublin to the Curragh on Saturday and Sunday only – collecting at Busaras and Red Cow (Luas).

Let The Roar Begin’   When the Derby starts 

THE new Irish Derby anthem will be heard for the fi rst time at the races when performed by Kildare-based tenor Paul Lenihan, accompanied by the Newbridge Gospel Choir, as the horses for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby line up next Sunday.  Let The Roar Begin was written by Kildare natives Mario Corrigan and Pierce O’Donnell. Mario is the author of over 20 books and is the son of Paschal Corrigan,  who worked for John Oxx for many years.

Pierce is a local schoolteacher who has been performing and writing for almost

40 years. The lyrics will be in the racecard and displayed on screens around the racecourse.

Great prizes for best dressed this  weekend

THE ‘most stylish’ lady at the races on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby day will win a trip for two to Dubai which includes five nights in the five-star Jumeirah Creekside, as well as €1,000 in spending money with Dubai Duty Free. The prize also includes a two-night stay in a luxurious suite at The K Club, with plenty of extras thrown in.  There is also a fantastic five-star K

Club VIP experience for the ‘most stylish’ man at the races, plus a €500 voucher to spend at Kildare Village. Picking the winners will be style ambassadors Arthur Gourounlian and Lottie Ryan, Breeda McLoughlin, wife of Dubai Duty Free’s  Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm,  and Fashion Editor of the Irish Independent and Lifestyle Ambassador for Dubai Duty Free, Bairbre Power.

Live music after racing each day on Derby weekend

QWEEN will rock the Curragh on ‘Funky Friday’  next weekend with their brilliant authentic and much acclaimed show after racing. 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.

Newbridge native Lea Heart will headline  the post-race party on Saturday in the new Festival Quarter, while the fabulous Spring Break  will continue the Irish Derby day celebrations on Sunday, playing hits of the 80s and 90s. The Newbridge Gospel Choir will welcome racegoers on Saturday and Sunday, while the  Naas Hospital Choir will perform on Friday. A  variety of other local musicians will entertain racegoers throughout the venue over all three days.

Curragh launch new Festival Quarter beside parade ring

A NEW lively entertainment zone will be opened to all racegoers at the Curragh next weekend.  Located close to the parade ring and pre-parade  ring, the Festival Quarter has great views overlooking  the parade ring and it will be the base  for the ‘most stylish’ competitions on Saturday and Sunday. The area will also feature live music  from Lea Heart on Saturday and Spring Break on Sunday after racing.

New Derby Lawn family area

THERE will be a variety of free activities for younger racegoers on Saturday and Sunday available on the Derby Lawn located in the west  end of the venue.

More food and drink options

THE Derby Festival will feature a wide variety of food and beverage options throughout the venue including Orbys by Lucy, Shoda, Sweet Cheeses, Kildare Farm Foods and The Beanery,

all in partnership with Fitzers Catering.