Crowds and betting up on ‘Day One’ of Galway Races

Galway Bay fm newsroom – The crowds and betting were both up at day one of the summer racing festival in Ballybrit yesterday. (mon)
The opening day attracted just under 18,940 punters, up 949 on last year and they wagered just under 2 million euro.
The bookmakers turnover was 1.2 million euro, up 7000 on last year, while the Tote betting of just under 739 thousand euro was 130 thousand up on last year.
One of the biggest cheers of the evening came when the locally owned Beckwith Star landed the €10,000 Easyfix Rubber Products Handicap Hurdle for Loughrea native Herb Stanley.
Trained by Henry De Bromhead, Beckwith Star was ridden by Brian Hayes and was returned at odds of 12-1.
Noelle Fleming of Claregalway won the Most Appropriately Dressed Lady competition with her pink and cream ensemble and pink headpiece.
She was selected from the crowd by Galway milliner Suzie Mahoney.
Among the celebrities enjoying the festival were rugby heroes, John Muldoon, Stephen Ferris, Dave Kilcoyne, Fergus McFadden and Connacht Coach, Pat Lam.
The World Junior Power Lifting Champion, Emma Scott was also in attendance.
Racing today begins at 5.05 this evening and a reminder that Galway Bay fm will bring you live coverage and analysis of every race for each day of the festival