Extension of Guinness sponsorship is major lift for Galway racing festival

THE Galway Summer Racing Festival has received a major boost with the news that Guinness have renewed their sponsorship of the popular meeting for a further five years to the value of €1m.

The sponsorship package will include the featured Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle, the richest hurdle race to be run in Ireland, which takes place on Ladies Day, Thursday, July 31, and the Guinness Handicap on Friday August 1,

Guinness have been sponsoring races at the Galway Racecourse for nearly 50 years now with the relationship between both parties stemming way back to 1965.

“We are delighted to announce that Guinness have renewed their sponsorship with us for a further five years,” said Galway Racecourse manager, John Moloney.

“They have been with us long before I started here and it’s magnificent that we can continue this long and fruitful relationship together,” he added.

Galway Racecourse will also host the richest flat handicap to be run in Ireland on Tuesday, July 29, The Topaz Mile, while The Tote Galway Plate, a race steeped in Irish racing history, takes centre stage on Wednesday, July 30.

Race week kicks off with the Galway Best Hotels Race Day on Monday, July 28, with the €70,000 Connacht Hotel Qualified Riders Handicap being the feature event on the card. Galway would also like to welcome new sponsor to the festival, Colm Quinn BMW, as backers of the final race of Monday’s card, the €10,000 bumper.

The Ladbroke’s Day takes place on Saturday, August 2, and the €45,000 Grade C Handicap Hurdle is the feature event of the afternoon. Race Week concludes with the €100,000 European Breeders Fund ‘Ahonoora’ Premier Handicap to be run over a distance of seven furlongs.

“We are very proud that every race throughout the week will be sponsored. Without the sponsorship, none of this would be possible. We are very grateful and look forward to a great week of racing at the Galway Festival,” added Moloney.

The Galway Race Committee officially launched the seven day festival in Gordon Elliott’s Longwood stables in Co. Meath on Monday where the trainer paraded his horses that will be running at the 2014 Galway meeting.

They included Galway Hurdle hope Bayan and intended runners for the Galway Plate in Plan A, Raajih and Cause of Causes.

Elliott said: “I love running my horses at the Galway Festival because the ground is top class and the prizemoney is wonderful. It’s the best race meeting of the summer.”