Set for The Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend...
Irish Champions Weekend will be staged on Saturday, September 13th at Leopardstown and Sunday, September 14th at the Curragh, a unique racing event which sees two racecourses joining forces to stage the highest concentration of Flat racing ever seen in Ireland. A total prize-fund of €3.73m has attracted many of the best racehorses from around the world. It will be an amazing sporting and social event combining history, spectacle, glamour, excitement and prestige. The Weekend will be action packed with the focus on showcasing Ireland as a world centre of excellence for horse racing and breeding.
Sunday 14th September at the Curragh will feature three Group one races, including the 100th running of the Irish St Leger. Victoria Smurfit, Ambassador to Irish Champions Weekend, will have an extra interest in the Irish St. Leger Legends presentation to honour the 100th running of the iconic race this year. Owned by her uncle, Dr Michael Smurfit, the career of Vintage Crop who died earlier this year will be marked as the greatest ever Irish St. Leger winner.
In addition there will be an exciting variety of entertainment throughout the day.
The Curragh Thoroughbred Trail, sponsored by Dublin Coach, will take place during the morning of 14th, September, offering the opportunity to visit some of the top trainers and have a unique chance to see behind the scenes. Johnny Murtagh, Dessie Hughes, Michael Halford, John Oxx and Paul Deegan are some of the leading trainers taking part, while the world famous Irish National Stud, Kildangan Stud and the Racing Academy and Centre for Education are some of the other locations which can be visited.
Places for the Trails will be limited and should be reserved by booking on line at www.curragh.ie. All proceeds from the Thoroughbred Trail will be donated to horse racing charities.
Kildare Village will offer the winner of the best dressed/style award a 3k shopping spree and Palmerstown House Estate, sponsor of the Irish St Leger, will give the winner a VIP stay for the winner and 19 friends in their magnificent manor house. The five fashion finalists from the Curragh’s style competition will be entered into a draw to drive away in a brand new Jaguar XF, which will be theirs to drive for one year. The multi-award winning Jaguar XF combines sports car performance with outstanding luxury saloon comfort. The draw will take place after the feature race at the Curragh on Sunday, September 14th.
Throughout the afternoon the attractions will include a Parade of Champions featuring four Champion Hurdlers – Hurricane Fly, Jezki, Binocular and Hardy Eustace, while Quevega and the legendary Moscow Flyer will also be part of the parade. The Moyglare Stud Kids Zone will provide a variety of exciting free entertainment throughout the day for younger race goers with shows featuring well known Disney and Star Wars characters, while a performance by the world renowned Celtic Tenors will bring the raceday to a spectacular close.
The Curragh is delighted to welcome charity partner, Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Light it Up Gold fund raising initiative at the races on 14th – to create awareness for Childhood cancer. This campaign will see buildings and famous landmarks throughout Ireland Light Up Gold during September, International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. September 2013 saw buildings across the country shine gold for childhood cancer including Belfast City Hall, the O2, the Mansion House, Trim Castle, Dunbrody Famine Ship and many more. Childhood Cancer Foundation is working to improve the services for children and families affected by childhood cancer.
As many as 20,000 visitors are expected to attend both racecourses over the weekend with many thousands due to visit from the UK and overseas. Tickets can be purchased from the Irish Champions Weekend website with weekend tickets priced at €30 – irishchampionsweekend.ie/ICW/Tickets.
Follow Irish Champions Weekend on Twitter @IrishChampsWknd and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/irishchampionsweekend
