Bigger crowd bets just under 2 million euro at Ballybrit

Galway Bay fm newsroom – The sunshine brought large crowds and increased betting to Ballybrit last evening for day two of the summer festival
Today is Galway Plate Day, one of the best known days in the Irish racing calendar.
The Tuesday evening crowd of just over 19 thousand was up 900 on last year while the betting of just under two million euro was 56 thousand euro up on last year.
However it was the tote betting that made the gain as betting with the bookies was down.
The tote turnover was just under 724 thousand euro, up 80 thousand on last year while the bookies’ turnover of 1.23 million was 22 thousand euro down.
Trainer Dermot Weld marked his birthday in style in Galway with two winners – Hidden Universe and Antique Platinum.
Later this morning, he will be feted again when he and sparring partner Jim Bolger will be conferred with Honorary Doctorates by NUI Galway.
President Dr Jim Browne says Bolger and Weld are global figures in the world of horse-racing who have distinguished themselves as breeders, trainers and leaders of the sport.
He added NUI Galway is delighted to recognise their achievements by awarding them the highest honour which the University can confer, at a special ceremony during the Galway Racing festival.
Among the familiar faces enjoying the festival were RTE’s Sean O’Rourke and rugby anchor Tom McGurk.
Racing today begins at 3pm and a reminder that Galway Bay fm will bring you live coverage and analysis of every race for each day of the festival.