The Curragh Racecourse has been busy adding sponsors to this weekend’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend.
Newbridge Silverware is to add it’s name to the feature Pretty Polly Stakes on Sunday and online classified website Done Deal has taken over the entire card on Friday, turning it into a country themed ‘hoedown’.
Nathan Carter will perform after the evening meeting at which 8,000 racegoers are expected to attend. Carter is warming up to be the support act for the sell out Garth Brooks concerts at Croke Park next month.
There will also be a music village hosted by Hector O’hEochagain and a special food area which will be on site through the full Derby Festival.
Hoedown
Done Deal will sponsor two races on the night, as well as having the title rights to the Done Deal Derby Friday Hoedown.
“We are delighted to be the title sponsor of the first day of the Irish Derby Festival,” said Agnes Swaby, Marketing Director for Done Deal.
“It gives us a great opportunity to gain a strong branding presence at this popular festival, and helps us to promote the various sections of the website to attendees. From farming and machinery, to cars and DIY.”
The ‘DoneDeal Derby Friday Hoedown’ takes place on Friday 27th June at the Curragh Racecourse. Tickets cost just €20, which includes entrance to the Nathan Carter concert after the racing.
Centrepiece
The Derby itself is the centrepiece of the action. This will be the third year of its switch to Saturday evening and a crowd of as many as 25,000 is expected to attend, despite the counter attraction of the World Cup and the Galway Kilkenny Hurling Replay in Tullamore.
Crowd numbers have climbed by almost 1,500 since the switch in 2012. This year’s race features a rematch of the first and second home in the Epsom Derby where Australia helped Tipperary trainer Aidan O’Brien become the first man in history to train the winner of the race three years in succession.
This is the seventh year of Dubai Duty Free’s involvement in the race. After last year’s event Executive Vice Chairman Colm McLaughlin said “The sponsorship of the Irish Derby is very important for us and is in line with our global strategy of high profile sports sponsorships.”
Family
The third and final day on Sunday is a family day with Cossack Stunt Riders putting on a display and the Minions characters from Despicable Me on hand to entertain and have their pictures taken with racegoers.
Newbridge Silverware is using it’s new sponsorship of the main race, the Pretty Polly Stakes to celebrate it’s 80th anniversary this year.
“We are delighted to support this prestigious historic race in such a milestone year for us,“ said CEO William Doyle.
