Longines Irish Champions Weekend

Longines Irish Champions Weekend

Leopardstown 9th September / The Curragh 10th September

Ireland’s newest racing event combines two of the best days of quality Flat racing into one amazing weekend, where the best in the world come to meet for racing, style and entertainment. 

In its fourth year Longines Irish Champions Weekend has firmly established itself on the international racing calendar. For two days in September, the best in Ireland becomes best in the world, uniting Leopardstown’s QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes and the Curragh’s final Classic, the Comer Group International Irish St Leger, plus a stellar cast of supporting races. With over €4.6 million prize-money on offer over the two days, it’s going to be thrilling. 

The QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes, as the name suggests, is frequently the race that crowns champions; its roll of honour reads like a who’s who of racing. On the world stage, this race is up there with the best. The Comer Group International Irish St Leger is a marquee race in its own right but has also become the premier trial race in Europe for the Melbourne Cup.

LEOPARDSTOWN RACECOURSE
Saturday 9 September
Leopardstown, as host to the opening day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend on 9 September, takes centre-stage in the global Flat racing scene. The feature QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes is the joint fourth highest rated race in the world, worth €1.25 million in prize-money. You will witness quality racing action that will long be remembered.

The legendary atmosphere and style of Longines Irish Champions Weekend continues all day long in the Champions Quarter Marquee with elegant fashion, and off-track entertainment including music, gourmet food and beverages.

CURRAGH RACECOURSE
Sunday 10 September
The historic Curragh Racecourse is home to all five Irish Classic races and is the venue for the second day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend on Sunday, 10 September. There are three Group 1 races on the eight-race card and pride of place goes to the Comer Group International Irish St Leger the final Irish Classic of the season. Many of Europe’s leading two-year-olds will contest the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. Racegoers can also enjoy the wonderful ‘Foodscape Kildare’ Paddock featuring some of the top restaurants and food producers from County Kildare. 

Longines Champions Weekend 2017

LONGINES PRIZE FOR ELEGANCE
The Longines Prize For Elegance boasts an impressive prize fund of €25,000 across the weekend. The prizes, including shopping experiences from Ireland’s elite fashion houses, including Louise Kennedy, Louis Copeland and Kildare Village as well as a luxury stay at Dublin’s best address, The Merrion Hotel, will be awarded to the most elegant female and male race-goer at Leopardstown and The Curragh.

Title sponsor, Longines, will also gift the winners each day with an elegant time piece from their latest collection.

Longines Champions Weekend 2017

THOROUGHBRED TRAIL
The Curragh Thoroughbred Trail takes place before racing on Sunday morning 10th September, on day two of Longines Irish Champions Weekend. This unique one-off event allows racing fans to go behind the scenes at many of the leading training yards, stud farms and world-class equine hospitals based on the famous Curragh plains. 

MOET & CHANDON CHAMPION HAT
To celebrate the growing art of millinery in Ireland, last year Leopardstown have introduced a new fashion concept to day one of Longines Irish Champions Weekend. With spectacular prizes for the best hats, the Moët Champion Hat competition creates a platform for anyone who enjoys this art-form both amateur and professional, as well as providing exposure for Irish milliners to showcase their creations on an International stage. 

Buy your tickets now at www.irishchampionsweekend.ie


Family Enclosure
The Curragh launch new Family Enclosure for Longines Irish Champions Weekend

Day two of Longines Irish Champions Weekend on Sunday September 10 is set to be an exciting finale to the 2017 season at The Curragh

The County Kildare venue is delighted to announce that they will create an exciting Family Friendly Enclosure on September 10, which will be located in the In-Field of the racecourse with fantastic views of all the racing action and accessible to anyone with a race day admission ticket.  The Enclosure will feature a great mix of family friendly entertainment, together with a high quality food and beverage area.

Derek McGrath, CEO of The Curragh, said: "We feel that the new enclosure will greatly enhance the customer experience and provide a fun area for families to enjoy what promises to be a magnificent day to showcase the very best that horse racing has to offer and a fitting highlight to finish our 2017 season."

"High quality and competitive racing has been the hallmark of the season so far for the County Kildare venue. The development project is on schedule and already there has been significant progress made with the repositioning of the historic Queens Room, which is currently under construction."

Derek McGrath added: "Our major races have rated highly and competition for success has been very strong throughout the season. The track has been in excellent condition and has consistently received very positive reviews from trainers and jockeys which is testament to the hard work and dedication of the Curragh team."

Racegoers are advised to book tickets for day two of Longines Irish Champions Weekend in advance.

In addition to world class racing featuring three Group 1 races, day two of Longines Irish Champions Weekend will feature the Parade of Champions, the Longines Prize of Elegance for ladies and men and an exciting line up of music performers. The Curragh Thoroughbred Trail kicks off the day with the public having the opportunity to visit some of the leading stable yards, stud farms and other equine establishments.  The Trails are filling fast and need to be pre-booked at www.irishchampionsweekend.ie

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