New Five-Year Sponsorship Of The William Hill Galway Plate John O'Donoghue, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, today joined Senior Executives from both Galway Races and William Hill, Europe's leading bookmaker, at a reception in the Westbury Hotel, Dublin today to announce a new five-year sponsorship of the Grade A William Hill Galway Plate at the Galway Festival, to be run on Wednesday 2nd August in 2006.The five year agreement covers the entire 8 race card on William Hill Galway Plate Day, including the Grade A €200,000 Galway Plate and ensures that prize money on the day will be approaching €2Million over the five years.The Festival feature compliments the company's commitment to top class National Hunt racing alongside their existing sponsorship of the William Hill Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the William Hill Tingle Creek at Sandown. The endorsement of the Galway Plate is William Hill's first major sponsorship commitment in Ireland since their acquisition of the Stanley Leisure retail operation, which includes almost 100 shops throughout the whole of Ireland.In supporting the showcase of the Irish summer season, William Hill is providing their clear commitment to their future growth in Ireland and an endorsement to the popularity of Irish horse racing. The high profile and quality of the Galway Plate and the annual record breaking Galway Festival, is a perfect partner to the high quality service William Hill provides the betting public.John O'Donoghue, T.D. Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Speaking at today's launch of the new sponsorship deal for the Galway Plate, said 'I am delighted to announce that William Hill Bookmakers are to become the new sponsors for the Galway Plate. This sponsorship, which will help increase the value of the prize fund for the Galway Plate Day to approximately €2 million over the next five years, will enhance the total prize money at one of Ireland's premier race meetings. Galway Racing Festival is one of the highlights of the racing calendar in Ireland and has attracted record numbers in attendance and increased betting over the years. With the new capital development planned for the racecourse and this new sponsorship from William Hill for the feature race of the Festival, the Minister is confident that Galway Races will continue to grow and attract more and more racegoers from home and abroad.'The Minister complimented John Moloney, the General Manager of the Galway Racecourse, for developing this positive relationship with William Hill Bookmakers which has resulted in this major investment in the Galway festival. He also expressed his thanks to William Hill Bookmakers for their generous sponsorship, which will act as a vote of confidence in the Festival, and he wished both parties every success in the future.David Harding, Chief Executive of William Hill said, 'I am delighted to put the William Hill brand beside one of Ireland's most historic races. Whilst we are relatively new to Ireland, we are excited about the future here, about developing our business here and particularly about sponsoring The William Hill Galway Plate, which, as part of Ireland's biggest race meeting, sets the benchmark for our future in the country. The passion of the Irish people for horseracing is the same passion with which we will run our business in Ireland and I am looking forward to the first running of the race under our banner in August.'Ray Rooney, Chairman of the Galway Race Committee said, 'William Hill showed to us that they understood comprehensively our feelings regarding how the sponsorship of the Galway Plate would be handled. We are extremely impressed by their professionalism and their commitment to a minimum of fives years as sponsors. The Galway Committee has no doubt that William Hill will expand and enhance their reputation as blue chip participators in Irish racing by the manner in which they intend to contribute to the Galway Plate. The Committee and indeed all of racing are indebted to William Hill for this major commitment and their wonderful appreciation of William Hill Galway Plate Day.'Dennis Brosnan, Chairman, Horseracing Ireland said, 'I am pleased to welcome William Hill's five year commitment to sponsor the entire card on Galway Plate Day. Galway is the jewel in the crown of the Irish racing year and a long term commitment such as this is a fitting endorsement of its product. Yet again in 2005 the Galway Festival created new national attendance and betting records and in July Horse Racing Ireland was pleased to approve grant aid to support the Galway Race Committee in their plans to develop a new €20 million West Stand in time for the 2007 Festival.'Brian Kavanagh, Chief Eexcutive, Horseracing Ireland said, 'Sponsorship of Irish racing has been very strong in recent years showing a growth of 28% in the last four years. In 2005 66% of all races were sponsored which is a significant endorsement of our product by the business and commercial sector. Sponsorship of flagship events such as the William Hill Galway Plate is fundamental to this growth and enables us to offer prizemoney which bears favourable international comparison. I am therefore delighted to welcome the five year deal between the Galway Race Committee and William Hill which will help to ensure continued success for this great racing Festival.'
