Record Breaking Galway Festival A record breaking Galway festival witnessed some tremendous racing, attracted a remarkable 182,720 people and saw nearly ?27m bet on-course throughout the seven days.When taking the infield area into account a total of 210,120 people flocked to Ballybrit with the centrepiece of the meeting coming on Thursday, which produced a modern day attendance record of 46,498 for an Irish racemeeting in addition to setting new national records for all levels of turnover with the Tote and bookmakers. Reflecting on another incredibly successful week, Galway Racecourse Manager John Moloney said: 'It was a brilliant week and everything went without a hitch. There was a wonderful atmosphere here throughout the seven days, coupled with brilliant weather and a very happy crowd. On behalf of Galway racecourse I would like to thank everybody for their support'.Thirsk-based trainer Kevin Ryan made his first visit to Galway a worthwhile one when capturing the final day feature, the Michael McNamara & Co Builders Handicap, with Uhoomagoo.Partnered by Kildare-born Neil Callan, who was apprenticed to Kevin Prendergast but had never ridden here before, the seven-year-old appeared to have plenty to do nearing the straight but the decision to sit off the searing early pace paid dividends as Uhoomagoo picked up in fine style to grab the lead inside the distance. The gallant Senators Alibi finished second in the race for the fourth consecutive year.'I felt if we could get him in the right frame of mind he would run a big race. He is a horse that gets outpaced early on but they go a really good pace around here and I've seen a lot of horses come from off the pace to win. Neil's a top class rider and this horse has been very good to me,' said Ryan. A native of Golden Co Tipperary, Ryan has already sent out 54 winners in the UK this year.Dermot Weld bought another splendid week to a close when Pat Smullen and Motafarred made all the running in the Mercer Hotel Race. The Rosewell House trainer's eight victories saw him capture the Chanelle Veterinary Leading Trainer Award.A double from Ruby Walsh helped him touch off Nina Carberry for the Rooney Life & Pensions-sponsored leading National Hunt rider award and his brace featured a perfectly judged ride on Tony Martin's Millanymare in the Corrib Village Handicap. The 100/30 favourite looked to have plenty to do jumping the fourth last but gradually crept into contention and led before the last to score by six lengths.On what was his first ride for Nenagh trainer Tom Hogan, Walsh had earlier recorded a pillar-to-post success on Rooftop Protest in the Tara Towers Hotel Handicap Hurdle.The day began with an incident packed Mercer Court Beginners Chase that went to the Timothy O'Callaghan-trained Ghlaisebhui. In a field decimated by fallers the eight-year-old prevailed to round off a memorable meeting for Niall Madden.Although he failed to ride a winner on the final afternoon, Fran Berry's haul of five winners was still good enough for him to secure the Rooney Life & Pensions leading flat jockey award.Elsewhere, Homegrown followed up her victory here on Tuesday by landing the Galway Fairgreen Hotel Handicap for jockey Seamus Heffernan and trainer Pat Tallis.The final race of the week saw Pedrobob, who is owned and ridden by Barry Connell, complete a hat-trick of bumper victories for Tony Mullins in the Tara Towers Hotel Flat Race Cumulative FiguresAttendance2005: 182,7202004: 170,000 Tote2005: ?7,999,7822004: ?7,778,452 Bookmakers2005: ?18,882,252 (+?2,505,848)2004: ?16,376,404
