Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has extended its sponsorship of the Irish Derby Festival for another two years.

The three-day event returns to the Curragh Racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland on 26-28 June.

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, said: “The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is a premium race meeting, generating global media coverage.

“Our title sponsorship of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is in line with our global strategy of promoting both our own duty free brand and the city of Dubai itself. This sponsorship enables us to reach our potential audience and to speak to them through the medium of exciting, premium sport.

‘MUCH MORE THAN RACING’

McLoughlin continued: “We have successfully sponsored the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for the past twelve years and we are happy to renew our sponsorship for another two years including this year, 2020 and 2021. We are very pleased that we have been able to grow this festival, with the help of our partners at the Curragh.

“The weekend is now much more than racing with various ancillary events happening off the track over the weekend including a golf classic, a charity lunch and lots of local community initiatives which we are proud to support. It has grown to become a ‘must visit’ festival and we are proud to be the title sponsor of this prestigious racing festival.”

As part of the agreement, DDF will sponsor an extra five races, all of which will benefit from ‘significant’ increases in prize money.

The travel retailer will continue to sponsor the ‘most stylish racegoer competition’ offering a five-star Dubai holiday to the winner and the Irish Derby ‘Free Entry’ initiative that incentivises owners to run their horses in the Curragh Classic.

In addition, DDF will continue to present a trophy to the grooms of horses who win a DDF sponsored race and pledge a cash prize for the best turned-out horse.

Aside showcasing high-quality horse racing and entertainment, the DDF Village based in the new Curragh garden will host entertainment, food and beverages in a new area close to the parade ring.

Total prize money increases this year to €2.5m/$2.7m, up from €2m/$2.2m in 2019. From next year, the prize money for all races increases to a minimum of €100,000.

Pat Keogh, Chief Executive of The Curragh Racecourse added: “Dubai Duty Free have been outstanding partners of the Curragh and I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution that Colm McLoughlin and his team have made to the success of the Irish Derby since 2008.

“Their increased support across their six sponsored races for the next two years will ensure we can maximise the quality and competitiveness across all races.”