CROWDS UP SLIGHTLY BUT BETTING DOWN AT BALLYBRIT

Date Published: 31-Jul-2012

The attendance at Ballybrit was up slightly on last year for day one of the Galway racing festival but both tote betting and betting with the bookmakers was down.

Seventeen thousand 710 people enjoyed the sunshine, 140 more punters than last year but they wagered less.

Punters bet 1.4 million with the bookies, 52 thousand euro less than last year while the tote turnover of 599 thousand euro was 64 thousand down.

Sports stars were out in force for the opening day at Ballybrit including Ireland soccer international and Wolves star Stephen Hunt, Connacht rugby captain Gavin Duffy, Munster legend David Wallace and Leinster’s Eoin Reddan.

Headford’s Aoife Kenny won the title of most appropriately dressed lady in a fitted red dress with black trim, red hat and red shoes, judged by Galway miliner Suzie Mahony and TV3’s Noel Cunningham.