The G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will this year be worth a record €1.5 million, an increase of €250,000 from last year. The purse boost is one of a variety of initiatives announced Tuesday by The Curragh to attract the best possible field for its showpiece race, which is this year set for June 25.
The prize money distributed for the Irish Derby will be as follows: €870,000 to the winner, €300,000 to the second, €150,000 to third, €75,000 to fourth, €45,000 to fifth, €30,000 to sixth and €15,000 to seventh and eighth.
The Irish Derby's qualifying race initiative, launched last year, will be expanded to include additional races, with entry and forfeit fees being refunded to the winners, and in some cases the placed horses, in predetermined races.
The winners and horses placed second through fourth in the following races will have their entry, including supplementary, fees refunded should they start in the Irish Derby: G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Epsom Derby.
The winners of the following races will have their entry or supplementary fee refunded if they start in the Irish Derby: G2 Derby Italiano, G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, G3 Airlie Stud Gallinule S., Nijinsky S., TRM Silver S., G1 Epsom Oaks, G1 Prix de Diane, G2 King Edward VII S. and G3 Tercentenary S.
The winners of the following races will have entry fees, but not supplementary fees, refunded if they run in the Irish Derby: G2 UAE Derby, G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, G2 Dante S. and G2 Prix Hocquart.
Paul Hensey, Curragh Racecourse General Manager, said, “We have identified the key races which should generate runners for this year's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and we hope that this exciting initiative, in addition to the increase in prize money for the 2016 renewal, will maximise the potential for us to encourage owners and trainers to be part of Ireland's greatest and most valuable horse race.”
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