2013 Fixture List revealed The 2013 Fixture List was released today by Horse Racing Ireland. The key points in relation to the 2013 Fixture List are detailed in the following press release:- • The total number of fixtures has been retained at 349, with the continuation of the 14 additional winter AWT fixtures at Dundalk, which were introduced in 2012. • The Irish Oaks meeting will take place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July and the Curragh is considering whether to run the Oaks on Sunday or as a Saturday evening meeting following the success of the Irish Derby in its new Saturday slot in 2012. A decision on this is expected in the coming weeks. • The Hennessy fixture at Leopardstown has been switched from Sunday to Saturday (9th February) to avoid a direct clash with the Ireland v England rugby international and to allow Leopardstown to maximise the commercial and tourism opportunities arising from this • The Curragh is reverting to a two-day September Festival in the middle of the month (14th and 15th) with the Moyglare Stud Stakes on Sunday 1st September • At least one good quality Flat meeting has been scheduled for each weekend during the turf flat season (there were several deficient weekends in 2012) • Two Dundalk fixtures have been switched from May into Wednesday evenings in November (13th and 27th) to give a second weekly fixture at the time of year when there is the greatest demand for additional opportunities on the all-weather track • Easter at Fairyhouse (31st March – 2nd April) and the Punchestown Festival (23rd – 27th April) fall in their ideal calendar locations in 2013 • The Flat race Summer Season will start at the Curragh on Sunday 24th March 2012 and conclude at Leopardstown on Sunday 3rd November 2012 Commenting on the 2013 Fixture List, Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of HRI, said: “HRI is pleased that it has been able to retain the same overall number of fixtures in 2013. We are committed to providing sufficient races for the horse population with appropriate levels of prize money, whilst also allowing racecourses and the off-course betting industry to maximise their commercial opportunities. "The introduction of year-round racing at Dundalk was very well received in 2012 and Friday evenings will continue to be scheduled throughout the winter months next year. The move of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby to a late afternoon Saturday card was also a successful initiative in 2012, attracting a larger crowd to the Curragh and a vastly increased television viewing audience. This will be repeated again next year and a Saturday evening meeting is also under consideration by the Curragh for the Darley Irish Oaks.” The dates of the major racing Festivals for 2013 will be: Cork Easter Festival 30th March – 1st April Fairyhouse Easter 31st March – 2nd April Punchestown National Hunt 23rd – 27th April Killarney Spring 12th – 14th May Curragh Guineas 25th – 26th May Curragh Derby 28th – 30th June Bellewstown 5th – 7th July Killarney July 15th – 18th July Galway 29th July – 4th August Tramore 15th – 18th August Killarney August 28th – 31st August Listowel 15th – 21st September Down Royal 1st – 2nd November Fairyhouse Winter 30th November – 1st December Leopardstown 26th – 29th December Limerick 26th – 29th December
