The highly anticipated 2018 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival takes place at Ireland’s premier international racecourse, The Curragh Racecourse, Co. Kildare on Saturday, 30th June 2018.

Sponsored by Dubai Duty Free since 2008, this event is Ireland’s answer to Royal Ascot and is the place to see and be seen, renowned across the nation for its high-octane glamour and style, celebrities, fun seekers and racing enthusiasts alike. Dubai Duty Free have once again increased their commitment and raised the prize money to €1.5 million making it Ireland’s richest and most prestigious race; ensuring it will attract the very best horses in the world to compete at The Curragh. Capri, owned by John Magnier, gave jockey Séamus Heffernan his 3rd win, and trainer Aidan O’Brien his 12th success in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in 2017.

Heffernan previously won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with Soldier Of Fortune and Frozen Fire in 2007 and 2008 respectively, both trained by Aidan O’Brien.

Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, Colm McLoughlin said, “The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is a terrific event, it reflects our brand and is very much in line with our global marketing plan which encompasses sports sponsorship. This is our 11th year as title sponsor of what we believe is a complete festival that incorporates a golf tournament at the K Club, a charity ball at the K Club with proceeds raised for the Jack & Jill Foundation and Best Dressed Shop Front Competition in the neighbouring towns of Newbridge and Kildare, and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day itself. Since we took over as title sponsor in 2008 we have made a concerted effort to build on our association with the derby and to engage with as many communities as possible both on and off the track.”

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Golf Classic is played at The K Club on Thursday 28th June.  This four-person team event is played on the Palmer Ryder Cup Course, home of the 2006 Ryder Cup and the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.  The winning team are then invited to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh Racecourse on the Saturday, where they can enjoy full hospitality in the Dubai Duty Free Derby private VIP suite.

On the eve of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, Friday 29th June, the annual Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball will be held at the Five AA Red Star K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare.  Glitzy dresses are donned, hair is coiffed and teased and slicks of lip gloss are applied, all in preparation for the annual Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball, one of the highlights of the summer social calendar, in aid of the children’s charity, The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation.

Throughout the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival at the Curragh Racecourse, racegoers can also enjoy lots of live music performances, a fantastic food enclosure and exclusive styles stakes! Fashion and millinery will be the barometer of style on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day itself, with many attendees putting their best foot forward in the hope of winning the covetable Best Dressed Lady Competition.

Courtesy of Dubai Duty Free, the Best Dressed Lady at The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Saturday, 30th of June will win a luxury trip to Dubai for two including flights and accommodation. The winner and a guest will stay in the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel for five glorious nights.  Jumeirah Creekside Hotel is a luxurious five-star hotel, offering an authentic cultural experience in the heart of the city of Dubai.  The winning lady will also be treated to a €1,000 Dubai Duty Free spending spree where she can shop for the latest designer handbags, perfumes, jewellery or cosmetics.  The airport retail operation is one of the largest in the world and is a haven for shoppers seeking a wide array of goods. The night before she travels to Dubai the winner and a guest will enjoy an overnight stay at The K Club and a second night at the luxury Kildare Golf & Spa Resort on the return leg of this wonderful trip.

Dubai Duty Free invests heavily in the events it sponsors, spending 2.5% of its annual turnover on marketing each year, most of which is dedicated to sport.  The company, which is expected to achieve US$2 billion in sales this year is also one of the most innovative retailers in the world and the management team, headed up by Irish man Colm McLoughlin, from Ballinasloe in Galway, are always focused on remaining at the forefront of the duty free business through innovation, great product choice and engaging marketing experiences and sports sponsorships.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival takes place at The Curragh Racecourse from Friday, 29th June – Sunday 1st of July. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby runs on Saturday, 30th of June.