Action-packed Derby weekend
NEWS from Cathal Beale, CEO of the Irish National Stud.
“The starting stalls will open at the Irish National Stud tomorrow (Sunday) at 2pm for the 12-furlong trip from the INS, through the Kildare Village outlet and into Kildare town for a summer fete on the street.
“Each furlong marker will be unveiled by a member of the local community and will reveal a Derby Legend from each decade.
At the finish line we will invite everyone to enter the Derby Legends Exhibition in the Court House and enjoy the summer party in the town square. The perfect way to round off the Kildare Derby Festival. All are very welcome.”
Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby day schedule
Time Event Location
11.30am Gates open
11.30am-6.00pm Face painting, roving entertainers, photo oppostunities Champions Hall
11.30am-1.00pm Newbridge Gospel Choir In front of Champagne Terrace
11.30am-2pm Music by Suspects Derby Bar
12.30pm Jim Kavanagh Heritage Talk Queen’s Room
1.00pm Winning Line panel discussion Stage
1.45pm Racing starts
2.00pm-4.30pm Music by The Trad Gang Derby Bar
2.00pm Interview with Most Stylish judges Breeda McLoughlin, Bairbre Power & Lorraine Keane Stage
3.45pm Most Stylish Winner announced Parade Ring
4.30pm-8.00pm Music by Nite Train Derby Bar
5.00pm National anthems of UAE & Ireland performed by Gemma Sugrue & Army Band Parade Ring
5.08pm Jockeys escort Derby trophy with military police, Special Olympics representatives, Sensational Kids & local school mascots Jockeys’ Tunnel to Parade Ring
5.12pm Curragh of Kildare performed by Gemma Sugrue & Army Band Parade Ring
5.20pm Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
Mounted troopers escort winner to parade ring for presentation. Army band plays fanfare.
Press conference with winning connections Media Pavilion
6.30pm-8.30pm Music by Andrew Strong Stage at Curragh Plaza (between track and parade ring, near betting ring and saddling stalls)
All day Food on sale from Hartes, Silken Thomas, Dew Drop, Lock 13 Garden Plaza
Curragh showcases on Nationwide
RTÉ’s Nationwide continues to give centre stage to racing and will feature the new Curragh and flat racing features on RTÉ One at 7pm this Monday, July 1st.
Mary Kennedy will be out and about this Derby weekend, seeing the world class facilities including the weigh room with the jockeys and she chatting to racegoers and the track’s ambassador, Johnny Murtagh.
Mary Fanning meets trainer Sheila Lavery in Co Meath. They look back at the success of Lady Kaya and her heart breaking end and she hears how the resilient team is looking to the future.
Valerie Waters meets two of the artists who created the unique model horses for the Curragh under their stARTers orders fundraising project with the money going to the Irish Injured jockeys and Sensational Kids charities.