Everything you need to know about Galway Races

The following is a press release from Galway Racecourse

The stage is set for the annual Galway Races Summer Festival, which runs from Monday, July 31st ? Sunday, August 6th.

The going is good to firm with watering in progress. Rain is forecast for the weekend.

Patrons can look forward to the mouth-watering prospect of Dermot Weld´s course specialist Ansar bidding to retain his title for the third time in the William Hill Galway Plate. Both the William Hill Galway Plate and Guinness Galway Hurdle have attracted the usual large fields of competitive entries, which can be viewed on our website at www.galwayraces.com

Entries for the GPT Amateur Handicap and the Tote Galway Mile will be made on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

This year's race card competition, sponsored by Tote Ireland, is certain to generate plenty of excitement. The first prize is a fabulous Hyundai Getz. There will be a free racecard competition each day for a ?500 Tote Betting voucher with Tote Ireland. The winner of each day´s competition will then be entered for the special draw on Sunday for the Hyundai Getz.

Lucky punters can look forward to guaranteed Tote Jackpots on all seven days of the Festival: Wednesday and Thursday ?70,000; Monday, Tuesday and Friday ?50,000; Saturday and Sunday ?30,000. All jackpot winners throughout the week will be entered in a free draw for a superb Santa Fe Hyundai jeep. The draw will take place at the September meeting. Since the winner must be present in order to claim the prize, all qualifiers are expected to attend in September.

Also worth a visit during this year´s festival is the new Tote Sports Lounge located on the second floor of the Millennium Stand.

This year, for the first time, Ladbrokes will operate an S.P. shop in the Mayors Garden.

In addition, there will be six bookmakers operating in the hospitality area.

The irrepressible Hector O hEochagain, star of RTE's ?Only Fools Buy Horses', will return this year to host the Big Bash in the Guinness and Oyster Marquee on the first day of racing on Monday July 31st. An evening of fun, laughter and general hilarity is guaranteed, with a cascade of spot prizes.

The Best Dressed Lady competition takes place on what is traditionally known as Ladies Day on Thursday August 3rd. This year's competition is again generously sponsored by Anthony Ryan Ltd of Shop Street, Galway.

The winner of the Best Dressed Lady award will receive a generous first prize of a ?3000 shopping spree at Anthony Ryans along with a specially commissioned trophy. There will also be a runner-up prize and a fantastic prize for the Best Hat.

There is no entry required for this competition. Judges will mingle through the crowd and will invite chosen finalists to the judging marquee, which is located adjacent to the champagne tent in the race enclosure.

This year's judges are three leading officiators from the Irish fashion world: Maura Derrane, presenter of TV3's Ireland AM; PJ Gibbons, editor of Ireland's number 1 society magazine ?Social & Personal'; and Pamela Flood, fashion presenter from RTE's ?Off The Rails'.

Mad Hatter Day on Sunday, August 6th is sponsored by the Mercer Group. Patrons are urged to cast their sartorial inhibitions aside, give free rein to their imagination and wear the most bizarre, surreal and fantastical headgear they can conjure up.

The fabulous prizes on offer should galvanize even the shyest and most demure racegoer - and there are not many of those at Galway!

Adult Section

1st Prize: 'The Maddest Hatter'

Luxury weekend in the newly refurbished Shelbourne Hotel, PLUS ?1500 cash to spend.

2nd Prize: 'Alices Idol'

Weekend Break in the Mercer Hotel, PLUS ?1000 Cash to spend on a Shopping Spree in Dublin's most exclusive shopping district

3rd Prize: 'March Harebrain Hat'

A Weekend Break in the Tara Towers PLUS ?500 Cash to spend on a Shopping Spree in nearby boutiques or the Dundrum Shopping Centre.

Children´s Section

1st Prize: Playstation

2ndPrize: IPOD

3rdPrize: Latest Mobile Phone

In these days of constantly rising costs, race-goers will be pleased to hear that Galway Race Committee have succeeded in retaining last year's admission prices: ?25 on Wednesday and Thursday, and ?20 on all the other days. Reserved seating remains the same price as last year. The Galway Races annual badge, which represents excellent value at ?160, entitles holders to attend all 12 fixtures at Galway each year.

Racing starts at 5.10pm on Monday, Tuesday and Friday; at 1.50pm on Wednesday and Thursday; and at 2.15pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Since it is important to arrive early to savour the special atmosphere and enjoy this unique experience to the full, race-goers are asked to allow plenty of time for their journey to the racecourse. Gates open at 2.30 p.m. for the evening meetings, while entrance can be gained from 11 am for the afternoon fixtures. Bus Eireann will operate a shuttle bus to and from the races, departing from outside the Skefflington Arms Hotel in Eyre Square. To facilitate the free flow of traffic, there will be a new entrance for buses and taxis this year off the N6.

Patrons should tune into Galway Bay FM on 95.8 for regular traffic updates.

There will be extensive coverage of Galway Races on television and radio.

RTE will bring you all the action from Monday to Thursday.

TG4 will televise all races live on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

At the Races (Sky Channel 418) will screen all 51 races live.

Radio na Gaeltachta will broadcast all races on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Festival Radio, provided by Galway Bay FM, will feature live coverage of every race throughout the meeting.

Patrons can also purchase radios at the course and tune into At the Races commentary each day. This is sponsored by Tote Ireland