Enjoy the Galway Race Festival

The Galway Races gets underway once more on the last Monday in July and is likely to attract even more that the usual 200,000 spectators that usually make the trip. The seven day long festival has grown out of all proportion and has become Ireland's most popular horse racing meeting and not only because of the quality of the racing on show. The family friendly atmosphere means the meeting can be enjoyed by everyone and if you enjoy Guinness and Oysters, you will be in for an even better time on Ireland's West Coast.

The seven day long extravaganza, held on the Ballybrit racecourse hosts 42 races in total, the main two being the Galway Hurdle on the second evening and the famous Galway Plate on the third day - won last year much to chagrin of the Irish by Oslot, trained in England by Paul Nicholls.

The fourth day at Galway Races is one of the most popular due to it being Ladies Day and the Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle. This day attracts thousands of fashion followers most who seek the prize of the best dressed lady which in 2008 carried prizes of 4,000 Euros, 2000 Euros Voucher for Anthony Ryan Fashions, a diamond necklace valued at 6,000 Euros and a Crystal vase. Prizes that definitely light up the festival even more and attract hoards of beautiful women from Ireland and further afield.

The meeting is mixed in that there is flat racing as well as National Hunt racing, the first two days are held in the evening, with racing starting at 5.10 pm and concluding at 8.40 pm. The next two days are held in the afternoon, with racing starting at 1.50 and finishing at 6.05 pm.

The fifth day is Friday and is also an evening meeting where a real party atmosphere is created, before the meeting goes back to its afternoon agenda on the final two days, on Saturday and Sunday.

Over the years the Galway races has become one of the biggest betting events in Europe with over 100 million Euros being laid out on the course alone in 2008, that is even before bets in shops and on the internet are considered. Much of that money went on horses trained by Dermot Weld, who is far and away the most successful trainer at the festival. In 2008 Weld had ten winners, including a 449/1 four timer on the first day. He also saddled his 200th winner when Lady Alicia won the Irish Sportsbook Handicap on the third day.

The biggest race of the week is of course the Galway Plate a Grade Two Chase which is run over 2 miles and six furlongs. The race has been contested since 1869 when the Ballybrit course first opened. This year the prize money for the race will be in the region of 250,000 Euros and will undoubtedly attract entries from the top trainers from both sides of the Irish Sea.

The 2009 Galway Races gets under way on Monday 27th July and will run until Sunday 2 August. If you are planning to attend or simply just intending on watching it on TV, it really is a unique occasion and takes places in one of the most picturesque settings imaginable for horse racing, on the West Coast of Ireland.