Racecourse investment ‘vote of confidence’ in Galway

Horse racing’s biggest and best festival in Ireland is set to get better – with a new €6 million redevelopment project well underway at Galway Racecourse.

Manager of Galway Racecourse, Michael Moloney said the investment in new facilities at Ballybrit – which are on course to be completed by summer 2018 – represents a ‘vote of confidence’ in the Galway Races by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI).

“It is indeed. The horse racing industry in Ireland sustains 14,000 jobs and this investment is a boost for the Galway Races and for the West of Ireland,” he said.

The redevelopment is funded through the Horse Racing Ireland Racecourse Capital Development scheme, with HRI providing 40% of the cost of the approved project.

The new two-storey building will feature a large, open-plan betting hall on the ground floor, with Tote Ireland betting counters and a large betting shop.

Externally there will be 46 Tote Ireland betting windows, set back to provide weather protection to racegoers.

Galway patrons will also enjoy a new level of comfort on the first floor of the new building, incorporating a covered terrace balcony overlooking the parade ring, betting arena and part of the racetrack.

Mr Moloney told the Connacht Tribune that the Galway Race Committee has always been committed to reinvesting in the modernisation of the track.

“We get a huge crowd at the Summer Festival every year. A lot of the crowd is local, from Galway, and we invest in the facilities so that they keep coming back. The Committee is very conscious of the need to continually invest in the facilities at the racecourse,” he said.

“The biggest change to the skyline in the last 10 years has been the addition of the Killannin Stand but we make changes and improvements and upgrade the facilities every year. We are always trying to improve the facilities in order to keep the crowds coming back every year.”

Work has already commenced on the project and racegoers at Galway’s last meeting of 2017 in October witnessed the biggest development at the track begin to take shape since the Killanin Stand was opened in 2007.

“Since we finished racing last Summer, it’s been full steam ahead with this exciting new project. The plan is to have the entire project completed in June 2018 just in time for the Summer Festival. It’s an all-in contract to build and fit-out the building by Monami Construction. Our new two storey building will completely transform the eastern end of the racecourse located down by the parade ring, revealing a new, fresh modern feel and vibe. It’s great to see such progress here which will bring added comfort and facilities with an enhanced customer experience in mind,” Mr Moloney said.

The re-development will vastly improve the enclosure around the parade ring and bookmakers ring.  The repositioning of the new building will create much greater circulation space for racegoers which will enhance the atmosphere and create ease of movement even on the busiest days, added Mr Moloney.