Racing at the Curragh in 2000 begins this Sunday with prize money of almost IR#5 million available this season.
Highlight is the Budweiser Irish Derby on July 2nd which will be worth IR#850,000.
Budweiser's new contract with the Curragh runs until 2004, with the Classic to be worth IR#1million in 2003.
There will also be a Millennium "Million Dollar Bonus" for the winning horse if it has also won either the Vodafone Derby, Prix du Jockey-Club or Kentucky Derby.
Curragh chairman Philip Myerscough said: "This initiative from Budweiser and the input of newcomers such as Entenmann's at the Guineas Festival weekend have helped to build up a prize fund of almost #5 million for the year."
