FBD Hotels & Resorts join the Curragh Racecourse for the Saturday Series

FBD Hotels & Resorts today announced that it will be the inaugural sponsor of the Saturday Series at The Curragh, which takes place across four Saturdays in August 10, 17, 24 and 31. This exciting initiative will feature top class racing, music and family entertainment over the month and each week one hotel within the FBD Hotels & Resorts portfolio will partner the event and sponsor a race. The schedule is as follows:

Saturday, August 10 The Heritage, Co Laois - Keeneland Phoenix Stakes Race Day

Saturday, August 17 Killashee Hotel, Co Kildare - Irish St Leger Trial Race Day

Saturday, August 24 Castleknock Hotel, Co Dublin - Future Champions Race Day

Saturday, August 31 Faithlegg, Co Waterford - Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Race Day

There will be a Summery party atmosphere each Saturday of the Series featuring an afternoon of racing starting at 1.45pm with a race card of 8 races, the last at 5.30pm. There will be entertainment for all the family with a choice of food and drink options and the opportunity to win luxury weekends away from your choice of FBD hotels. A kid’s zone will be in place with free activities for younger racegoers. The race days will include an eclectic mix of music across the whole month.

Commenting at the launch David Kelly, CEO FBD Hotels & Resorts said, “We have been a long term partner of The Curragh and last year we partnered with them for the Orby Stakes. We are delighted to extend our sponsorship to the Saturday Series for 2024 and beyond. Summertime hospitality for family and friends is the essence of what FBD Hotels & Resorts offer and this festival of racing sits perfectly with these values.”

Evan Arkwright, Racing and Sponsorship Manager The Curragh added, “We are very grateful to David Kelly and his team at FBD Hotels and Resorts for agreeing to become the first title sponsor of our new Saturday Series and look forward to working closely together raise the profile of racing in August attracting a new audience to the races”.

Trainers and jockeys will also benefit from the new series with FBD Hotels & Resorts introducing an exciting League with points awarded to the winner, second and third of all races across the month. A tally will be kept, and the winning trainer will be awarded lunch for 20 of the team at a hotel of their choice. The winning owner will receive a Newbridge Silverware award and the overall winning jockey will win a two-night break at any of FBD Hotels & Resorts four Irish properties.

FBD Hotels & Resorts is owned by farmer-owned investment company, Farmer Business Developments Plc. One of Ireland’s leading hotel groups, its portfolio of six luxury four-star and four-star superior hotels and resorts include The Heritage in Laois, Killashee Hotel in Kildare, Castleknock Hotel in Dublin, Faithlegg in Waterford, and La Cala Resort and Sunset Beach Club on the Costa del Sol in Spain. Headquartered in Ireland, FBD Hotels & Resorts employs 1,800 people across its hotel and resort portfolio.