MAD HATTERS, maiden hurdles and an attempt to host the largest singles party ever on an Irish racecourse will be highlights of this year’s Galway Races summer festival at Ballybrit.
Galway racecourse manager John Moloney is also predicting a healthy attendance from both overseas and home – and that’s just the horses – during the festival week from July 26th to August 1st.
Almost 150,000 people attended the festival last year, which was about a quarter of the attendance at the Volvo Ocean Race festival in Galway the previous month.
Ballybrit no longer hosts the infamous Fianna Fáil “tent”, but it still attracts key movers and shakers. One of the major challenges this year was securing new sponsors, and Tote Ireland will now sponsor the Galway Plate.
Fuel supplier Topaz is sponsoring the feature race on July 27th – valued at €120,000, and said to be the richest handicap to be staged at an Irish racecourse this year.
If one can’t be a winning jockey, trainer or owner, it is also worth being a best-dressed woman. The top prize for this year’s Ladies Day on July 29th is worth more than €12,000. Winner of the “best hat” will secure a licence to shop to the tune of €1,500.
The race meet’s opening evening on July 26th, hosted by broadcaster Daithí Ó Sé, will include a “most appropriately dressed lady” contest. Weather permitting, this could mean Wellington boots qualify.
A new traffic plan is also being designed because of the opening of the M6 Dublin-Galway motorway.
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