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Dubai Duty Free has agreed a five year contract to sponsor the prestigious Irish Derby at the Curragh Racecourse from 2008 to 2012. The announcement outlining the details of the new sponsor was made recently at a press conference at the K-Club in Co. Kildare. The sponsorship will see the award-winning airport retailer becoming the title sponsor of the Irish Derby with The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby taking centre stage at the three day Irish Derby Festival which will be held from the 27th-29th June. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will take place on Sunday, 29th June.
The Irish Derby will celebrate its 143rd birthday this year, having first been run in 1866, when Selim finished first past the post. Over the years, the race has attracted top three year old thoroughbreds from all over Europe.
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| Pictured at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby press conference were from left: Mr John McStay, Curragh Racecourse Chairman, Colm McLoughlin, Dubai Duty Free Managing Director and Nick Wachman, Senior Steward of the Irish Turf Club.
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| Some of the world's greatest thoroughbreds have been successful in this premier Irish Classic including Nijinsky, Galileo, Shergar and Dylan Thomas. The race, which is run over one mile and four furlongs, is one of the most valuable in the world, with prize money of €1.5 million.
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Since its inception there have only ever been three sponsors of the Irish Derby - which in itself would seem to illustrate the significance of the recent sponsorship announcement with Dubai Duty Free.
Speaking about the five year sponsorship of the Irish Derby, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free and Irishman, Colm McLoughlin said: "The Irish Derby is a major race meeting attracting widespread media coverage across Europe and beyond and is therefore in line with our global strategy of promoting Dubai and Dubai Duty Free. Ireland is becoming an increasingly important market for Dubai and the United Arab Emirates in terms of travel and business and we believe that the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be a flagship event that will heighten interest further". He concluded: "We are delighted to forge an even greater relationship with The Curragh and look forward to exciting times ahead, in particular to 2010 when the new Curragh complex is due to be completed."
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A winner of various industry and media accolades, including the prestigious Frontier Award for Airport Retailer of the Year 2007, the Dubai Duty Free operation is renowned for its innovative approach to both retailing and marketing. With a turnover of US$1 billion forecast for 2008, Dubai Duty Free ranks alongside Heathrow and Seoul Incheon Airport in terms of duty free sales. The partnership will further assist Dubai Duty Free to promote Dubai, the airport and the Dubai Duty Free operation as well as target a huge audience of some 30,000 race-goers in addition to the millions of people who enjoy the extensive international coverage of the race.
Dubai Duty Free is set to contribute hugely as part of its multi-million Euro deal, given that the global mega brand plans to invest heavily in marketing and promotion of the event. The alliance between Dubai Duty Free and the Curragh Racecourse appears to be a truly beneficial one, especially given the ever strengthening links between Ireland and Dubai year on year - Dubai is fast becoming a major focus for Irish business and tourism alike and is an outstanding destination for sports, commerce, leisure and retail.
The Curragh Racecourse is looking forward to an even bigger and better Irish Derby Festival this year as Racecourse Chairman John McStay outlines: "The Irish Derby is a flagship race for our racing industry. For many years it has consistently been among the highest rated three-year-old races in the world. We are determined to keep the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby to the forefront of major international races and for that reason we welcome our new sponsorship partner. The business philosophy of Dubai Duty Free mirrors our ambitions for the racecourse and the race. I know that this will be a very successful partnership."
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