THE stage is set for another successful Galway Summer Racing Festival which will see the clatter of hooves return to Ballybrit on the last day of July.

And Ireland’s most popular racing festival is set to remain in pole position in terms of crowds judging by what’s on offer for racegoers in just over five weeks’ time.

For the festival’s unique blend of exciting Natonal Hunt and Flat racing is augmented by top-class facilities, fashion awards, the Mad Hatters’ day, entertainment and a range of hospitality options which are the benchmark for racecourse catering.

The launch of this year’s Galway Festival was held in O’Connell’s, Eyre Square, on Monday when a whopping prize fund of €2.1m for the week-long meeting was confirmed.

Each of the feature races over the seven days carries a minimum value of €100,000, while the festival’s flagship events, the Tote Galway Plate and the Guinness Hurdle, are each worth €270,000, making them two of the most sought-after awards on the National Hunt calendar.

Chief Executive of Galway Racecourse, Michael Moloney, revealed at Monday’s launch that advance ticket sales were ahead of last year’s figures with a typically strong demand for hospitality.

“Plans are all in place and I think it’s going to be bigger and better than ever before. Last year was about people getting back to the festival [after Covid] and this year there seems to be a real drive and determination among people to be there and be part of it.

“We have new things happening again on the course this year. I think it will be a great event and on the business side of things, we again have huge prizemoney and there is a minimum value on every race of €17,000.”

Moloney revealed that the 2022 big-race heroes, Hewick and Tudor City, are set to defend the Tote Galway Plate and Guinness Hurdle respectively next month, saying that was a prospect to look forward to.

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

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