October meeting to become three-day festival in 2018 after Galway gets extra fixture

AHEAD of next week’s two-day September meeting at Ballybrit, comes the news that Galway racecourse will be staging two big festivals in 2018.

The week-long summer meeting will again dominate the racing programme at Ballybrit next year, but a new three-day October festival promises to be also a huge hit with racegoers.

Horse Racing Ireland’s announcement during the week that Galway has been granted an extra fixture in 2018 will see the racecourse host a total of 13 days racing for the first time ever in a calendar season.

It’s something Galway has been lobbying for and racecourse manager Michael Moloney welcomed the prospect of a three-day festival of racing in October of 2018.

“I believe the decision to grant us an extra fixture is a reflection of the improved quality of the track and its ability to cope with adverse weather. It’s a good opportunity as it will be a busy weekend in Galway and our aim is to turn the new Saturday fixture into a family-themed day.”

Moloney revealed that National Hunt cards will be staged on the Saturday and Sunday of next year’s October Bank Holiday meeting, with flat racing going ahead on the Monday.

With work already started on the new multi-million-euro amenity facility near the parade ring, the granting of an extra fixture for Galway next year is also a reflection of the existing level of comfort for patrons at Ballybrit.

Turning to the upcoming September meeting, Moloney revealed that the going is currently soft on both the National Hunt and flat tracks. “We had 12mm of rain on Tuesday and it has been wet for the past few weeks, but the track has taken it fine.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.