How The Curragh Can Transform The Irish Derby Into ‘A Jam-Packed Weekend Of Top-Class Action’

Emma Nagle has called for a radical restructuring of the Irish Derby Festival and suggested combining the Irish Derby and Irish Oaks into a single festival weekend.

Speaking on this week’s irishracing.com Irish Angle YouTube show, Nagle proposed pushing the Irish Derby back several weeks to coincide with the Oaks.

It would be very interesting to see...'

“Why don't you maybe push the derby back a few weeks? Join it up with Oak's weekend, have a jam-packed weekend of top-class action and then it would be very interesting to see what the crowd figures would be like.

“We saw with the quality of racing that the atmosphere was there at the Curragh.”

“It would probably attract more international racegoers as well, I'd imagine, if it were more jam-packed and high-quality action rather than filling it up with handicaps, which could be run on other days realistically. They don't really have to be on the Derby weekend card.”

The proposed restructuring would allow the Group 2 Railway Stakes to return to its traditional position on the Derby card, while also accommodating horses returning from Royal Ascot with additional recovery time.

“This should be one big carnival of Irish racing, similar to what they have in Epsom,” Nagle added.

Irish Derby Festival Changed For The World Pool

The quality of the Irish Derby Festival this year was questioned, with the Group 2 Railway Stakes moved from its supporting role on Derby Day to Oaks weekend.

This meant more handicap races were introduced, with six of Derby Day’s nine races being handicaps.

As a result, the fixture was able to be included in the Tote World Pool, which means the Curragh was able to receive in excess of €600,000 in additional media rights.

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