DETROIT (WWJ) -- The historic Corktown Races will be managed by the organizers of the Detroit Free Press Marathon.
The management agreement between the Fraternal Order of United Irishmen, owners of the Corktown Races, and the Detroit Free Press Marathon was announced on Tuesday.
Detroit’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Corktown Races are both traditionally held on the Sunday before the holiday. Thousands of runners participate in the 5K, Emerald Mile and Kids Quarter Mile races each year. The Corktown Races was founded in 1983.
The Detroit Free Press Marathon held its 48th race in October, with more than 26,000 people registering to participate in the course that crosses the U.S. - Canada border twice.
The new management agreement maintains the “heart soul and shamrocks” of Corktown Races. This includes the connection to the parade, the focus on the 5K and fundraising for the St Patrick Senior Center, the largest health and wellness center for people over 55 years old in Detroit.
“We love what the Corktown Races stand for, and we love its connection to Detroit’s running community,” Aaron Velthoven, Vice President and Race Director of the Detroit Free Press Marathon and soon to be Race Director for the Corktown Races, said. “We’ll focus on behind-the-scenes improvements eyeing its health and growth – and ensuring it remains a highlight on runners’ calendars in mid-March.”
President of the Fraternal Order of United Irishmen Paul Doulette celebrated the contributions of outgoing Race Director Doug Kurtis.
“His passion for putting on a great race and his charitable dedication to the St. Patrick Senior Center have been amazing,” Doulette said. “As Doug hands over the baton, we look forward to the future with the Detroit Free Press and Aaron Velthoven as our new race director. With Aaron leading the way and Doug working behind the scenes, I am confident our FOUI Corktown Races will become one of the ‘must attend’ kickoff running events in Michigan.”
Kurtis retired as the Corktown event’s race director in the spring. He won the Detroit Free Press Marathon a record six times and served as its race director in the late 1990s.
“The Corktown Races will be in great hands with its connection to the Detroit Free Press Marathon,” Kurtis said. “It will have a broader reach, and I’m excited to see the next chapters for this stalwart event that promotes fitness and community spirit.”
Registration for the March 15, 2026 Corktown Races is now open. Early bird pricing, which runs through Jan. 1 is: $40 for the 5K, $20 for the Emerald Mile, $15 for the Kids Quarter Mile and $60 for the Dublin Double, which includes both the 5K and Emerald Mile.