Galway's record breaking festival wound up yesterday boasting a colossal betting total for the week of £16,113,113 but the track authorities are already planning a major facelift for next year.
Plans are under way for a £700,000 tunnel into the racecourse from the Monivea Road to ease parking problems.
Yesterday's official attendance of 15,912 brought the total crowd figure for the week to 160,723 but yet again it was the betting figures that were central.
The figure of £1,557,868 bet with the bookmakers yesterday brought the total bookie turnover for the week to a staggering £11,345,780. The corresponding 1999 figure was £10,243,313.
Yesterday's £496,154 Tote aggregate brought the Tote figure for the week to £4,767,333 which compares with the 1999 total of £3,832,075.
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