Be in the pink at Galway
The Galway October Festival is just around the corner, running from Saturday 29th to Monday 31st inclusive. Patrons will enjoy a great three days of action-packed racing, indoor hospitality, bar facilities, live music, on course bookmakers, a big screen, and the chance to meet old friends and new at Ballybrit.
Patrons are in for a real treat when National Hunt and flat racing go hand-in-hand across the weekend. On Saturday 29th, patrons will enjoy great racing with live music from The Gamblers. Gates on the first day open from 11am, with the Renvyle House Hotel Maiden Hurdle off at 1.08pm.
‘Race in Pink’ is set to take place at the Galway Races on Sunday, October 30th. The track is proud to support breast cancer awareness month with the Race in Pink day in aid of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute. With an eight-race card on the menu, the first race goes to post at 1.10pm and the sixth race of the day is the Race In Pink Maiden Hurdle.
This fundraising event has raised over €250,000 since its launch in 2018. Always a hugely popular day, the all-inclusive lunch tickets are now on sale for €120 per person and can be purchased online at Raceinpink.ie. The corporate lunch package includes an admission ticket, drinks reception, a delicious four course lunch with wine, live music and celebrity MCs and tipsters.
Student raceday is back with a bang on the bank holiday Monday, the 31st. Student bundle tickets are now on sale for €20, offering students transfers to and from the races, admission, live music with Sum Craic, a DJ and a silent disco. In addition, with thanks to Ireland West Airport, students can win a return trip for two to Milan for the best dressed competition. Gates on Monday open at 10.30am with the first of seven races off at 12.40pm. Galway Races offer a wide range of ticketing options from Panoramic Restaurant hospitality to their all-inclusive value offerings, and for more information visit Galwayraces.com.
Down Royal
Down Royal’s long-established November Festival of Racing is once again being sponsored by Ladbrokes. The prestigious two-day meeting, on November 4th and 5th, is the highlight of the racing calendar at Down Royal.
The feature race has an exceptional role of honour, including great chasers such as Kauto Star, Beef Or Salmon, The Listener, Looks Like Trouble, Florida Pearl and Don Cossack.
A total prize fund over the two days of €425,500 ensures that the title races on each day entice the cream of Irish and British racing’s runners and riders. Friday, November 4th will see the richest hurdle race in Northern Ireland take place, the WKD Hurdle, while the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase will run on the following day, Saturday 5th.
Emma Meehan, chief executive of Down Royal Racecourse, said: “Down Royal is firmly on the map as one of Ireland’s premier sporting destinations, and our first-class facilities, coupled with our impressive stable of sponsors and some of the most exhilarating horse racing in the country, sees thousands of seasoned and first-time racegoers alike flock to the Festival.
“We are anticipating a record crowd of over 10,000 punters over the two days, and with the venue and track both in tip-top condition, it promises to be a superb day out for all.”
The Association of Irish Racecourses wishes all the teams at Galway and Down Royal racecourses the very best of luck with their plans for their upcoming festivals.
