CURRAGH Racecourse CEO Brian Kavanagh has defended the decision to alter Sunday’s Irish Derby programme.

To maximise World Pool revenue, Sunday’s card has nine races. Being part of the World Pool is thought to be worth in the region of €500,000 for the Curragh but the racecourse has had to make changes to the programme as it is important that every race has at least eight runners to facilitate all bet types.

With that in mind Sunday’s card has six handicaps and two listed races. The Group 2 Railway Stakes has been moved to Irish Oaks weekend, meaning that there is only one group race on the card.

Kavanagh explained: “There have only been two changes to the Derby day card. Last year we added a €100,000 three-year-old handicap over nine furlongs, which looks a strong race.

“Moving the Railway Stakes is what you might call a structural change. It’s a Group 2 race and we swapped it with the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes, so now you have a Group 3 followed by a Group 2 next month and then the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes in August. We put the Anglesey on Saturday’s card because of the likely small field, which has proven to be the case.”

He added: “Nothing is set in stone but I’m very happy with Sunday’s card. We have the first three from Epsom in the Irish Derby and the supporting races are fiercely competitive. There are nine British-trained runners on the day. I’d like to have seen a few more runners in the other group races over the weekend, although the Pretty Polly [on Saturday] is a fantastic race.”

There are 40-minute gaps before and after the Irish Derby and four 35-minute gaps between other races on Sunday’s card, something which has annoyed some punters and racing professionals.

Kavanagh said this had nothing to do with the World Pool. “It’s partly because we have to fit in with British racing off-times and also due to the layout of the Curragh. If a race is starting out in the country you need to allow extra time for the horses to get there.

“Yes, it’s a long day but traditionally some Derby day racegoers prefer to arrive after the first race or they choose to leave before the last. Others stay on for the post-race entertainment.”

RACEGOERS won’t notice it this weekend but the Curragh’s racing community continues to be affected by illegal traveller encampments.

For decades, there has been a recurring issue of caravans—primarily from England and France—trespassing on the lands, particularly during the months of May and August. Between 1992 and 2000, six separate court orders were secured to prohibit such activity.

Nevertheless, unlawful caravan encampments have persisted since 2000. Last year saw a record high of 75 encampments at one time, a figure that was surpassed this year with a total of 89. The occupants of these caravans frequently change, with some moving on and new arrivals taking their place. They are spread across several locations throughout the Curragh.

On Wednesday the Minister for Defence was granted High Court orders preventing dozens of caravans from camping on land in the area. The order said that the caravans must be moved by 1pm on Friday. The Irish Field understands that many of the travellers did move as a result but the problem has not gone away.

A local trainer told The Irish Field on Friday evening: “They have moved away from the gallops, so at least we can operate as normal. To be fair, they also made an effort to clean up the area but there are still caravans parked illegally right outside some training yards in the Rossmore area.” In an affidavit, the Department of Defence said there were caravans on the land for nine months in 2024 and the cost of cleaning up afterwards was over €180,000. Since the arrival of the first group of caravans in March this year, the bill hds reached €31,700. The use of scramblers and quad bikes on the lands has caused damage to greens at Cill Dara Golf Club while local residents have complained about noise and general nuisance from the encampments, the Department claimed.

Fires have also been lit causing damage while on occasion illegally dumped material partially buried on the land created a serious trip hazard for horses galloping on the Curragh plain.

Dogs are running around the horses and animals have been left to graze on the land by the caravan occupants.

Bailiffs had been employed to serve notices to quit on the caravan occupants and only 21 people were identified but, because of the changing composition of those involved, it has not been possible to identify everybody, the Department said.

Mr Justice Cregan ordered that notices of the court order be pinned to the doors of each of the caravans. He further ordered that the defendants and all persons have notice of the orders be prohibited from returning once the Friday deadline has passed.