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Curragh Seeking Irish Derby Memorabilia

Curragh Seeking Irish Derby Memorabilia

2015 sees the 150th running of the Irish Derby, Ireland's oldest classic race.

To mark this Irish Derby milestone the Curragh Racecourse is producing an updated history of Ireland’s greatest flat race. The first such history, published back in 1980, was borne out of a desire to record Irish racing history. Realising that was simply too broad a canvas, the authors employed the Irish Derby as the vehicle best calculated to include just about everyone who had played a significant role in Irish racing since 1866. Fortuitously, that formula proved successful, virtually the only notable omissions being Arkle and his connections.

In the effort to ensure this forthcoming history of the Irish Derby makes the widest possible appeal, the compilers are in search of as much Irish Derby-related memorabilia as survives. Prompt and secure return of any items is assured, together with acknowledgement of those kind enough to make material available. 

Evan Arkwright, Curragh Commercial Manager, is driving this project. He can be reached at 045 – 441205 or eark@curragh.ie

The search is on for mementos – racing plates, photographs, racecards, badges, cigarette cards, posters, those illustrated brochures published each year during the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes’ sponsorship (1962-1983), in fact anything and everything related to Ireland’s greatest flat race.

If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right. And if it’s true that an image is worth one thousand words, then, the more the merrier.

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