Launch of the Galway Races Summer Festival
It’s Getting Bigger and Better All the Time
In keeping with our commitment to progress, Galway Race Committee have announced new sponsorship, increased prize money, improved facilities, and exciting plans for further enhancement and development.
We extend a special welcome to William Hill and Tote Ireland as new sponsors for this year's seven day Summer Festival Meeting which takes place from Monday, July 31st to Sunday, August 6th.
William Hill will sponsor the Grade A €200,000 William Hill Galway Plate and all supporting races on Wednesday, August 2nd. while Tote Ireland will sponsor six races on Tuesday, August 1st including the Tote Galway Mile EBF Handicap of €150,000.
To reflect its status, the value of the Guinness Galway Hurdle has been increased to €200,000 this year.
The total prize fund for the Festival will be €1.7m. However, the winner of Monday's €75,000 GPT Amateur Handicap will qualify for a €50,000 bonus should it subsequently go on to win the Guinness Galway Hurdle on Thursday.
The winners of all supporting races will receive a specially commissioned trophy sponsored by Galway Irish Crystal.
Racing starts at 5.10pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday; at 1.50pm on Wednesday and Thursday; and at 2.15pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Patrons are advised to arrive as early as possible. Gates will be opened approximately two and a half hours before the first race each day.
Bus Eireann will operate a shuttle bus to and from the races departing outside the Skefflington Arms Hotel in Eyre Square. To facilitate the free flow of traffic, there will be a new entrance for buses and taxis this year off the N6.
In these days of constantly rising costs, race-goers will be pleased to hear that Galway Race Committee have succeeded in retaining last year’s admission prices: €25 on Wednesday and Thursday, and €20 on all the other days. Reserved seating remains the same price as last year. The Galway Races annual badge, which represents excellent value at €160, entitles holders to attend all 12 fixtures at Galway each year.
There will be four giant screens operating throughout the enclosure.
Monday
The irrepressible Hector Ó hEochagáin, star of RTE’s ‘Only Fools Buy Horses’, will return this year to host the Big Bash in the Guinness and Oyster Marquee on the first day of racing on Monday July 31st. Regular patrons will testify that an evening of fun, laughter and general hilarity is guaranteed.
The feature race is the €75,000 GPT Amateur Handicap
Tuesday
Tote Ireland will sponsor six races on Tuesday, including The Tote Galway Mile EBF Handicap €150,000. The McDonogh group will sponsor the second race – The McDonogh Properties Steeplechase.
Wednesday
William Hill will sponsor the William Hill Galway Plate of €200,000 and all supporting races on Wednesday 2nd August
Thursday
The feature race is the €200,000 Galway Guinness Hurdle.
The Best Dressed Lady competition takes place on what is traditionally known as Ladies Day on Thursday August 3rd. This year’s competition is again generously sponsored by Anthony Ryan Ltd of Shop Street, Galway.
The winner of the Best Dressed Lady will receive a generous first prize of a €3000 shopping spree at Anthony Ryans along with a specially commissioned trophy. There will also be a runner up prize and a fantastic prize for the Best Hat.
There is no entry required for this competition. Judges will mingle through the crowd and will invite chosen finalists to the judging marquee which is located adjacent to the champagne tent in the race enclosure.
This year’s judges are 3 leading officiators from the Irish fashion world. Well known TV Presenter Maura Derrane from TV3’s Ireland AM, PJ Gibbons editor of Ireland’s number 1 society magazine ‘Social & Personal’ and renowned Fashion Presenter Pamela Flood from RTE’s ‘Off The Rails’ will determine the lucky winner of this glamorous affair.
Friday
The feature race is the Guinness Handicap of €70,000. Also O'Malley Homes and Development will sponsor the Tony O'Malley Memorial Handicap Steeplechase.
Saturday
Dawn Milk Handicap €45,000.
The Jockeys Association will sponsor the first race.
Sunday
Michael McNamara & Co. Builders Dublin & Galway Handicap €100,000
Mad Hatter Day on Sunday, August 6th is sponsored by the Mercer Group. A day for Alice in millinery funderland. Patrons are urged to cast their sartorial inhibitions aside, give free rein to their imagination and wear the most bizarre, surreal and fantastical headgear they can conjure up.
The fabulous prizes on offer will surely galvanize even the shyest and most demure racegoer - and there are not many of those at Galway!
Adult Section
1st Prize: “The Maddest Hatter”
Luxury weekend in Newly refurbished Shelbourne Hotel, PLUS €1500 cash to spend.
2nd Prize: “Alices Idol”
Weekend Break in the Mercer Hotel, PLUS €1000 Cash to spend on a Shopping Spree in Dublin’s most exclusive shopping district
3rd Prize: “March Harebrain Hat”
A Weekend Break in the Tara Towers PLUS €500 Cash to spend ona Shopping Spree in nearby boutiques or the Dundrum Shopping Centre.
Children's Section
1st Prize: Playstation
2ndPrize: IPOD
3rdPrize: Latest Mobile Phone
* Family Day Passes as Spot Prizes throughout the day
The Leading Jockey award will be sponsored by Rooney Life and Pensions who has been sponsoring this most sought after prize for over 25 years; and the Leading Trainer Award by Chanelle Veterinary. The prize for the best-turned-out horse in each of the 51 races will be donated by Paddy Power Bookmaker.
Wherever you are during the week, you can enjoy every memorable moment with comprehensive coverage of the Festival on television and radio. RTÉ will bring you all the action from Monday to Thursday while TG4 will televise all races live on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
At the Races (Sky Channel 418) will screen all 51 races live.
Radio na Gaeltachta will broadcast all races on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Festival Radio, provided by Galway Bay FM, will feature live coverage of every race throughout the meeting. Keith Finnegan, CEO of Galway Bay FM, is anticipating another exciting seven day extravaganza: ‘We have a first class team broadcasting live at the Summer Festival Meeting every year. This year our service will be better than ever with up-to-the-minute broadcasts and latest news from the track. Our service is also used by thousands of listeners around the world with up to 6,000 people tuning in via the internet every day.’ Patrons should tune into Galway Bay FM on 95.8 for regular traffic updates.
Galway is celebrated for its record-breaking, headline-making betting activities year after year. Whether you are a seasoned professional or novice with a lucky pin, you will find adrenaline-pumping punting opportunities in a full programme of hotly contested steeplechases, hurdles and flat races throughout the week.
This year’s race card competition sponsored by Tote Ireland is for a fabulous Hyundai car. There will be a free racecard competition each day for a €500 Tote Betting voucher with Tote Ireland. The winner of each days competition will go forward to a special draw on Sunday for the fabulous Hyundai car.
Lucky punters can relish the prospect of guaranteed Tote Jackpots on all seven days of the Festival: Wednesday and Thursday €70,000; Monday, Tuesday and Friday €50,000; Saturday and Sunday €30,000. All jackpot winners throughout the week will be entered in a free draw for a fabulous Santa Fe Hyundai jeep and the lucky winner will be chosen at the September meeting. The winner will need to be present so all finalists should attend.
On-course bookmakers will operate in the main betting ring and the Mayors Garden.
Ladbrokes will operate a second S.P. shop in a marquee located in the Mayors Garden.
Tote Ireland’s new Sports Lounge will be located in the Kinvara Bar on the second floor of the Millennium Stand.
Even if your horse loses, you can still be a big winner with the popular Tote Losing Ticket Draws each day for weekends away in various hotels.
Galway Races may be synonymous with success; but this is one winning team that doesn’t believe in resting on our laurels.
Galway Racecourse won the Powers Gold Label/Irish Independent Racecourse of the year 2005; Galway Race Committee won the Contribution to the Industry Award at Horse Racing Irelands award; and John Moloney, General Manager, won the Service to Sport Award at the County Galway Sports Stars 2005. Awards such as these recognize our dedication to our supporters and unwavering commitment to the ongoing improvement and development of all aspects of the Galway racing experience.
Thus it is that immediately after the Summer Festival Meeting, Michael McNamara & Co. Builders will move on site on Tuesday, August 8th to demolish the West Stand and construct a New State of the Art Grandstand at a total cost of €22 million. This stand over 4m floors will cater for our loyal patrons who attends the racecourse year on year and we would like to reward them and maintain their support by providing state of the art facilities for them at no extra cost. The ground floor and first floor on the new stand has been reserved specifically for our supporters. These floors without any cost whatsoever to our patrons will supply 700 free seats, bar facilities, snacks area, restaurant area, tote hall and toilet facilities. The upper floors will house panoramic restaurants built to standards that will rival any supporting developments in the world.
Galway Race Committee have announced that the new stand will be called The Killanin Stand as a lasting tribute to the memory of Lord Killanin who was a Member of Galway Race Committee for over 40 years and Chairman for 16 years. He was also Chairman of the I.O.C. during his Chairmanship of Galway Race Committee.
Galway Races newly designed website at www.galwayraces.com will provide up to date information, online booking, entries and results of all races as they become available available.
For further information contact:
Mr. John Moloney
Galway Racecourse
091-753870
www.galwayraces.com
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