Tote Ireland Sponsorship

Press Release
Tuesday, 28th March, 2006

TOTE IRELAND TO SPONSOR DAY TWO OF THE GALWAY RACES SUMMER FESTIVAL MEETING

Tote Ireland announced a three-year sponsorship of the Tuesday of the Galway Races Summer Festival Meeting commencing in 2006.

The total prize money to be provided over the three year period will exceed €750,000.  The sponsorship agreement covers 6 of the 7 races on the day with the highlight being the EBF www.tote.ie Handicap (formerly the McDonagh Handicap).  First held in 1971, the race has traditionally been one of the most fiercely competitive races of the flat season.  It has been increased in value to €150,000 making it the richest handicap race in the Irish racing calendar.

Galway is the highlight of the Tote betting calendar.  Over the past five years more than €40 million has been bet through the Tote at Galway, which also saw the largest turnover on a single race day - €1.9 million - on the Thursday of last year’s festival.

Alexis Murphy, Chief Executive of Tote Ireland said: “We are delighted to further enhance our successful partnership with Galway Racecourse, which always provides a unique experience for Irish race goers.  The Tote is a central element of this experience providing unique products such as place-only betting, the Exacta, Trio, Jackpot and Placepot.  Race sponsorship is an ideal platform for the Tote to promote some of its new developments and products and the Tuesday in Galway is now the focal point of our race sponsorship for the year”.

Ray Rooney, Chairman of the Galway Race Committee said:  “Galway Race Committee warmly welcomes Tote Ireland’s sponsorship of six races on the Tuesday of the Summer Festival Meeting. They have been partners with us promoting Galway Races for very many years and it is most encouraging that they manifest this great interest they have in Galway Races by stepping forward with a generous sponsorship. Jointly we hope to promote and improve betting facilities in Galway over the next few years”.

Dermot Cantillon, Chairman of Tote Ireland said: “All of Tote Ireland’s profits are reinvested into the racing industry through its dividends to its parent company Horse Racing Ireland and through direct contributions to the racecourses.  This sponsorship is part of a renewed commitment by Tote Ireland to invest in the racing industry through race sponsorship.  It adds to Tote Ireland’s existing portfolio of sponsored races including the ‘www.tote.ie Newland’s Chase’ and the ‘Tote Exacta Monksfield Hurdle’.  This year alone Tote Ireland intends sponsoring races to a value exceeding €0.5 million”.

For further information please contact:

Lorna Lowrie, Marketing Manager, Tote Ireland: 045 842874/ (087) 1315626
John Moloney, Manager, Galway Racecours: 091 753870