City abuzz as it prepares for €60m boost from Races

The city is abuzz for the annual Galway Races Festival, which got underway yesterday.

Around 150,000 punters are expected to make the pilgrimage to Ballybrit racecourse for famous Galway Race week.

On course bookmakers are expected to turn over in excess of €8 million while the Tote will handle well over €4 million.

The biggest and best racing festival in the country, the Galway Races will pump more than €60 million into the local economy.

Sports Minister Michael Ring yesterday singled out the Galway Races as an event that has helped to boost the country’s overseas tourist numbers.

A total of 52 races will be run over the seven days, with a record number of UK entries declared.

One of the highlights of seven-day festival is Ladies Day, when around 40,000 punters are expected at the course.

The Galway Hurdle is the feature race but all eyes will be on the fashion with the best dressed lady competition sponsored this year again by Anthony Ryan’s.

The top prize is a diamond pendant and matching earrings worth €8,500 as well as €1,000 in cash, a €1,500 shopping spree at their Shop Street store as well as a Lancôme hamper worth €500 and a hospitality package for the Galway Races in October.

The Galway Plate, which goes to post Wednesday, is traditionally another big crowd puller. The prize fund for the Galway Hurdle is €250,000 while there is a €200,000 fund for the Galway Plate.

The Willie Mullins trained favourite for the hurdle, Pique Sous, to be ridden by Paul Townend, has pulled out of the race.

The festival got off to a flyer yesterday evening. Monday’s races were again sponsored by local hotels including Radisson, Galway Bay Hotel, Claregalway Hotel, Clayton Hotel, Connacht Hotel and Pillo Hotel.

Ireland rugby players, Conor Murray, David Kilcoyne, Fergus McFadden, and Robbie Henshaw, as well as former players Alan Quinlan and Stephen Ferris, were among the sports stars at the track for ‘sports hero’ evening.

Racing gets underway at 5.05pm today, Tuesday, and Friday. The first race is off at 3pm on Wednesday, 1.50pm on Thursday, 2.35pm on Saturday and 2.15pm on Sunday.

RTÉ will be showing five races on the first four days of the festival, while At The Races, Sky channel 415, will be showing every race throughout the week. Galway Bay FM will also provide live coverage of every race.

The Tote jackpots for each day of racing will be €30,000 Monday and Tuesday, €40,000 Wednesday and Thursday, €30,000 on Friday, and €20,000 on Saturday and Sunday.

Bus Éireann will operate a regular shuttle bus service from Eyre Square and Irish Rail have added additional trains to their schedule for Wednesday and Thursday.

Punters are advised that children under 12 will be admitted free of charge when accompanied by their parent.

Galway City Council has advised that its recycling centre at Liosbán Estate will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, and will open as normal the rest of eth week. The city’s dog pound is closed until Tuesday, August 5.