Galway figures show healthy increases A terrific week at Ballybrit reached it's conclusion today with an impressive upturn in attendance and betting figures for the 2014 Galway festival. The last day of the meeting saw the crowd up 444, from 13,344 last season to 13,788 today. The total attendance for the week rose by 11,469, from 127,568 last term to 139,037 this year. The week is always hugely important for the Tote and their figures saw a significant jump this year. €5,041341 was bet on the Tote this year compared to €4,299,612 in 2013. This represents a €741,729 increase in turnover. On course bookmakers saw a much needed improvement as the total amount through the ring this year was €8,417,129 up €597,892 on last year's total of €7,819,237. Dermot Weld once again emerged as the leading trainer of the week, with nine winners, heading the table for the 28th time in the last 29 years. Weld's stable-jockey Pat Smullen was the leading Flat rider with seven wins while Paul Townend ended the meeting as the leading national hunt rider with five victories.
