The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival – Embrace More Than the Race
The eagerly awaited, Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival featuring the Good Food Ireland Village takes place at The Curragh Racecourse this Friday 24th to Sunday 26th June. The home of Irish racing plays host to the three day festival, which sees the world’s finest thoroughbreds compete for one of the ultimate prizes in Irish sport. The racing calendar meets the social calendar over three days and attracts a diverse range of visitors including racing enthusiasts, punters, socialites, fashion fanatics, entertainment seekers and families and is sure to be a great day out for all.
Sunday 26th June is the culmination of the festival when the best Irish and international horses compete for the €1.25m prize in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. 2011 marks the fourth year of Dubai Duty Free’s sponsorship of the Irish Derby and this year, the world’s leading airport retailer extends its support for the event by taking over as sponsors of the prestigious Most Stylish Lady Competition on Derby Day. The judges who will have the enviable task to select this year’s Most Stylish winner, include Celebrity Chef, Rachel Allen, TV and Radio Presenter, Mairead Farrell and Melanie Morris, Editor of Image Magazine. The winner will be presented with a magnificent prize of a 5 star holiday to Dubai, plus a shopping spree at Dubai Duty Free, while the runners-up will receive a vintage silver oval bracelet by Helen Fitrzpatrick for Tipperary Crystal.
The festival kicks off on Friday, 24th June with a lively six race evening programme, featuring a free concert from Boogie Nights after the final race. Saturday 25th June also includes fashion and style with the Best Accessorized Outfit competition sponsored by The Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge, while beauty sponsor, Sally Hansen, will also offer prizes for the lady judged to have the Best Manicured Nails and Most Perfect Legs. The feature race on the day will be the Group One Stobart Ireland Pretty Polly Stakes, which attracts some of the top fillies in Europe, while the race is also part of the prestigious Breeders Cup Challenge Series.
Tickets for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival start from €8 and are on sale now from www.curragh.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie.
A free shuttle bus will be in operation on Derby Day, 26th June from Kildare station and Paddywagon tours are operating a direct service from Dublin. For more information on travel visit here.
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