The iconic seven-day summer Galway Festival is the highlight of the year for many racegoers in Ireland. Located in County Galway on the west coast, the racecourse is unique and quirky in nature and stages Flat and National Hunt racing.
The Flat track is right-handed and almost rectangular, extending a total of 1 mile and 2 furlongs. A sharp descent to the turn into the straight and an uphill finish of just over a furlong tests the skills of horse and rider, along with the tight bends. It is a track that produces plenty of course specialists due to its trickiness - none more so than trainer Dermot Weld, who enjoys a wealth of winners at the course.
Seven fences are tackled on the jumps course, which has a finish of over two furlongs and two fences very close to each other in the back straight where there is a decline. The inner hurdles course consists of six hurdles and is an incredibly sharp track, most famous for the Galway Hurdle, one of the most prestigious jumps races in Ireland.
Galway races has always mirrored a carnival-like atmosphere and this dates back to 1869 when Lord St Lawrence, M.P. for Galway, was fundamental in establishing its first official two-day event staged at Ballybrit. A magnificent crowd of 40,000 racegoers turned out in force and the event was deemed a huge success.
The first major race of the meeting was the Galway Plate, a handicap chase staged over 2 and a half miles in which 8 fences were contested, featuring two dry-stone walls. Horses were transported to and from the course via train, remarkably free of charge and over the years more competitive contests were added to the fixture. This contributed to the allure of the festival for racing fans and connections alike and the visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1979 saw over 280,000 people descend on Ballybrit.
Over the years the Galway Festival grew in popularity and became a three-day festival in 1959 before a fourth day was added in 1971. As racegoers continued to revel in the summer celebrations, the meeting expanded to five days in 1974 and more recently six days in 1982 before a decision was made in 1999 that there was room for a seventh day. Over 150,000 people pass the the turnstiles of the Galway Festival each year as it continues to thrive as a social occasion and for the local economy.
Galway is aa right handed and almost rectangular of 1 mile 2 furlongs. Sharp decent to the turn in and uphill finish of 2 furlongs. 6 hurdles and 7 fences on circuit.
