Horsepower drives Galway economy!

It may well be a sign of an economic upturn that attendances and the projected spend of about €70 million at the Galway Races is up on the last few years.

The seven day festival has already been acclaimed as a success half-way through, thanks in no small part to the increased number of cross channel entries to the races.

The UK horse owners have finally taken notice of the significant prizes, especially for the two big races of the week – Wednesday’s Tote Galway Plate and yesterday’s Guinness Galway Hurdle.

The hurdler went to the Noel Meade-trained Road To Riches and jockey Shane Shortall giving him his biggest victory to date on a horse owned by the Gigginstown House Stud, which includes Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary.

And to add to this sweet victory, the prize was presented by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins who walked around the enclosure greeting people and obviously enjoying a day out in Galway.

The good weather has no doubt contributed to the hike in daily attendances with 19,000 people going through the stiles at Ballybrit on the opening evening meeting on Monday, almost 1,000 more than last year.

Attendances were up on Tuesday as well with over 19,000 passing through the turnstiles. Wednesday’s attendances were up by almost 5,000 with 18,766 attending, as opposed to 14,038 last year – with close to 40,000 for Ladies Day yesterday.

The winner of the Anthony Ryans Best Dressed Lady Competition on Ladies Day at the Galway Races is Helen Murphy from Douglas, Co Cork.

Paula Clancy from Inverin was the winner of the Anthony Ryans Best Hat Competition, sporting a hat designed by Galway-based milliner Edel Ramberg.

The winner of the Anthony Ryans Wear Irish Award, for the lady with the most appropriate choice of Irish design or accessories in her ensemble was Emer Nash from Castlemahon, Co. Limerick, with hat designed by Galway milliner Suzie Mahony.

Get the inside track on the Galway Races in this week’s Galway City Tribune.