Edited Press Release
Dubai Duty Free has agreed to a five-year contract to sponsor the Irish Derby (Ire-I) at the Curragh Racecourse beginning this summer. The announcement outlining the details of the new sponsorship arrangement was made April 15 at a press conference at the K-Club in County Kildare.
The sponsorship will see the airport retailer becomme the title sponsor of the Irish Derby with The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby tto be run June 29.
Since its inception there have only ever been three sponsors of the Irish Derby.
Speaking about the five-year sponsorship of the 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". McLoughlin 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."
"The Irish Derby is a flagship race for our racing industry. For many years it has consistently been among the highest rated 3-year-old races in the world," Racecourse chairman John McStay said. "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."
