GALWAY Racecourse will play host to one of the largest and most iconic race meetings in the world from 25 to 31 July, the thrilling week of jumps and flat racing with a total prize fund in excess of €2 million expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people from across Ireland and around the world.

Known to Galwegians in and around Ballybrit as ‘Race Week’, the Galway Races Summer Festival offers a minimum prize fund of €100,000 for the feature race with a minimum of €17,000 on any race. With 53 races to be run, fun for the whole family and live entertainment including the Mad Hatters competition the Galway Festival is the place to be during the last week of July.

“Having supported the local community for the last two years we are delighted to be back presenting our iconic world-famous Galway Races Summer Festival,” said Galway Race Committee Chairman Anthony Ryan. “This July the team in Ballybrit are gearing up for a very special week and much-welcomed return of all our race goers to the popular West of Ireland racetrack.”

The festival will begin on Monday 25 July with a lively and colourful Opening Day musical performance in the parade ring ahead of the first of seven races at 5.10pm. The Throwback Tuesday 80’s night will take centre stage on 26 July, and Galway Plate Day & Country Music Extravaganza with Irish country music sensation Nathan Carter will have the racecourse rocking until well into 27 July. Ahead of the entertainment, look for experienced chasers and emerging youngsters running in the feature race.

The week continues on Thursday with Guinness Galway Hurdle Day & Stylish Ladies Day, offering a cash bonanza of €13,000 in the Ladies Day competition, and the fashion forward won’t want to miss Friday’s Most Stylish (29 July). Wrap up the Galway Summer Racing Festival with The Weekender on 30 July and the Made Hatter’s Family Fun Day on the final day of racing, 31 July.

To celebrate the festival’s return and to thank customers for continuing support over the last few years, Galway Races is offering €5 off on every general admission ticket up to the day’s race meeting along with the new €70 three-day bundle ticket and new flexi-ticket. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.goracing.ie or at https://galwayraces.com.

Tags: Galway Summer Festival Visit Galway Horse Racing Ireland Galway Races Galway Tourism

Image credits: Horse Racing Ireland, Galway Races Summer Festival