Sir, – My annual visit to the Galway Festival never fails to delight.
The colour, all-round bonhomie and determination to enjoy life are unmatchable at any racing festival in the world.
All credit is due to the committee, which continues in its endeavours to keep it going.
There is a lesson to be learned for the money-grubbing Cheltenham Festival, which continues to overcharge the racegoer and shoehorn in far more punters than make for comfort.
Your excellent report by Ryan McElligott (Sports Friday, July 29th) notes there were “plenty of punters but smaller bets”.
Is it any wonder? The bookmakers and the Tote should not be complaining at a downturn in their receipts.
I was betting successfully yesterday but exclusively with Betfair on my iPhone, just before the off at the 5.30 race.
I took odds of 2/1 on the favourite Teach Nua; the bookies across the ring were offering a miserly 6/4; and the Tote, predicting €1.70, returned a dividend of only €2.
Is it any wonder their revenues are down? – Yours, etc,