The Curragh Racecourse in conjunction with Dubai Duty Free have announced a massive €250,000 increase in prize money for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby to take place at the Curragh on Saturday, 25th June.
Total prize money for the richest race to be run in Ireland will rise to a record €1.5 million with the winning horse taking home over half of that.
The “Win and You’re In” initiative which was launched for the first time last year and entitled owners of the winner of certain races earlier in the season to get their entry stakes back once they ran in the Derby is also being repeated and extended.
“We have identified the key races which should generate runners for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and we hope that this exciting initiative in addition to the increase in prize money for the 2016 renewal will maximise the potential for us to encourage owners and trainers to be part of Ireland’s greatest and most valuable horse race,” said Curragh General Manager Paul Hensey.
The racecourse is to undergo a major €65 million redevelopment over the next three years. This will be funded by a new private consortium of horse racing connected individuals and public capital money channelled through Horse Racing Ireland.
