Annaghmore, IE – With five full elimination divisions, the Christopher Dunne Memorial Derby is set with plenty of harness racing action coming this Saturday at Annaghmore Raceway.
There are eight horses in each of the five division with the winner and second place finisher of each race returning later on the race program to compete in Dunne Memorial Derby Final. Total purses for the Dunne Memorial is €15,250 with the winner in the ninth race final getting €6,000.
The Dunne family are long steeped in harness racing going back some three generations, with a fourth generation now coming through from their base in Kill, County Kildare under the name of the “Porterstown Stud”.
Christopher’s parents, Christy and Carol Dunne, along with their children Geoff, Jonathan and Alison, have fittingly organized and heavily sponsored the annual race to honor the memory of their son Christopher, who died tragically back in 1994 at age 18 while on holiday. The Derby has now become one of the highlights of the Irish harness racing calendar.
Some of outstanding horses that will be competing include Newtown Rock, Streamside Star, Tarawood CJ, Rhyds Rambler, Sarah's Gift and special credit goes out to the connections of Pan Cam Drift, who are traveling nearly the length of Ireland, 380 km, to compete in the race.
Also on the program in the eighth race is the James Stewart Memorial Free-For-All Cup. The meet will also feature the Annaghmore Bookmakers Pace and the Belmont Stables Pace.
First race post time Saturday is 2:00 pm.
By Carmel Stewart, for Annaghmore Raceway