Under starters orders for a festival like no other

The economic importance of the Galway Races to the west – and Galway City in particular – was emphasised at the virtual launch of the seven day summer festival on Wednesday.

The 2021 instalment of the famous festival goes to post on Monday, July 26, with a whopping €1.8 million prize fund for the 52 races over seven days.

The prize money in big two races – the Tote Galway Plate on Wednesday and Guinness Galway Hurdle on Thursday – is worth half a million euros between them this year.

Both feature races, which will attract a quality field of horses, jockeys, trainers and owners, are worth €250,000 each, an increase of €50,000 in each race.

Feature races on Monday, sponsored by the Connacht Hotel, and Tuesday, sponsored by Colm Quinn BMW, are worth €100,000 each in prize money.

Galway Racecourse chief executive Michael Moloney conceded yesterday (Wednesday) that he was ‘not fully sure yet how many spectators will be there’, but talks are ongoing with Horse Racing Ireland and the Government to allow 5,000 punters per day through the turnstiles.

Last year’s festival was held behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions but Mr Moloney was optimistic that 5,000 per day will be allowed to attend this year at the venue with a capacity of 46,000.

Mr Moloney said he expected an official announcement ‘in the next two to three days’.

Ballybrit is home to the HSE’s mass vaccination centre for Covid-19 and Mr Moloney said that there was no reason why it couldn’t continue during Race Week.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now – or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie