Magners Summer Festival of Racing at Down Royal Launch

I had a fantastic time last Thursday at the official launch party for Down Royal Racecourse Summer Festival in the ever so chic settings of The Dark Horse Cafe and Winebar.  Fashionistas flocked to the quirky venue to show off their style and get in on the down low for this seasons most trendy happenings.  When I heard it was a BBQ event I was suspicious as you never know what kind of weather you will get in NI but we were ever so lucky to have sun shine to enjoy our chilled Magners in peace.  The French Village which is my favourite bakery in Belfast provided the delicious BBQ treats for all the hungry attendees and we weren't disappointed to say the least.  I could have sat in the sunshine with great company and ate food all night!  The stylish guests really made the event with key trends in full throttle.  Check out my images below to see a taster of what's in store!  



Feel free to check out below for all the  nitty gritty details!

Whatever the weather, Summer starts right here, with the launch of the 2017 Summer Festival of Racing at Down Royal: great days and balmy evenings of sport, sociability and, new to this year’s Festival, the sizzle of the barbeque.

There’s never been a better opportunity to capture the mood of Summer with five great Down Royal racing events lined up and under Starter’s Orders:

Friday 23rd - Mencap Race Evening

Saturday 24th June – Magners Derby Day

Friday 28th July – Magners Race Evening

Friday 1st September – Musgrave Northern Ireland Race Evening

Friday 8th September – Summer Race Evening

The annual Festival brings together great racing on the track and great times trackside to create the perfect combination for a Summer outing.

Mike Todd, General Manager of Down Royal, says, “Our Summer Festival of Racing boasts impeccable sporting credentials and has long been a favourite with punters and die-hard fans of horse racing. Increasingly, they are being joined by a new breed of race-goers who love the unique spirit of this great racecourse and who appreciate an outing with sport, craic and style. This year, to create the right, laid back Summer vibe, we’re adding gourmet barbeque to a programme that’s already smokin’ hot and we’re looking forward to drawing record crowds ready to share the race-going experience.”

Providing the barbeque will be French Village Catering who will add to the Down Royal wining and dining options in the corporate entertainment suites and The Dark Horse Café & Winebar with the launch of casual al fresco dining options that wouldn’t be out of place in a chic resort.
Ashley French from French Village says, “We’re delighted to be introducing a whole new approach, with ‘Summer On A Plate’ – a contemporary casual menu featuring fantastic locally sourced food, cooked right there. Even better, it’s affordable whether you’re winning or losing on the track!”
Down Royal Summer Festival of Racing Menu
Local Dexter Beef Burger
Caramelised Onion | Rocket
Gourmet Hot Dog
Brioche Roll | Homemade Piccalilli
Pad Thai Chicken Curry
Noodles | Bok Choy
Sauces
Homemade Smokey BBQ Sauce
Ballymaloe Tomato Relish
Bang Bang Sauce
Roasted Garlic Mayo
From haute cuisine, to haute couture, with good news, for those whose taste runs to fashion. Thanks to a partnership with Magners Forbidden Favours, the stakes in this year’s Best Dressed Lady competition are higher than ever before with a Caribbean Cruise on the cards for the winner.
The elegant ladies strutting their stuff and turning heads at the Magners Ulster Derby on June 24 will be in hot pursuit of that dream prize package which includes return flights for two from Belfast to Miami, with three nights’ at the four star Casablanca Of The Ocean Hotel in uber-cool Miami, followed by an amazing seven night cruise on board the stunning MSC Divina.
Judging the good-humoured fashionista face off and posing at the Photo Finish with the finalists will be Nuala Meenehan Ulster Tatler’s Girl About Town, and leading model; Cool FM’s Breakfast presenters Pete Snodden and Rebecca McKinley, both recognised as two of Northern Ireland’s most stylish icons, and Diane McStay from the Style Studio.
Mike Todd says, “Whether you are already an old hand at racing or fancy enjoying the Down Royal experience for the very first time, our Summer Festival of Racing is the place to be for five unique events this Summer.”
All race meetings can be booked at www.downroyal.com, tickets from £10. Follow the fun Down Royal Racecourse.
Photo credit Press Eye Photography