Galway Festival

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), in collaboration with the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association (IRTA), will introduce enhanced pre-race veterinary checks for the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle, which means that trainers will be requested to submit detailed medication records for their horses in those races prior to declarations. Arising from the ongoing work of the EIIRRR [Equine Injury in Irish Racing Risk Reduction] Project, the IHRB continues to evolve and enhance its risk-based approach, with the first significant change implemented being the ongoing expansion of the IHRB's existing raceday...

They say the Galway Festival has an unrelenting ability to provide a springboard for young jockeys. Ride a winner at the Galway Festival on terrestrial television and it's worth 10 around the country tracks.  Think of the baby-faced Colin Keane storming to Topaz Mile glory aboard Brendan Brackan (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) for his boss Ger Lyons back in 2013 as a five-pound claimer.  Just last week, we had local boy Danny Gilligan earning the plaudits for his front-running masterclass aboard Gordon Elliott's Ash Tree Meadow (Fr) (Bonbon Rose...

Ado McGuinness has described the Galway Festival as a place for the ordinary man to make a name for himself and revealed that he will be aiming up to 20 horses at this year's seven-day bonanza, headed by the remarkable Current Option (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).  Bidding for a fourth successive triumph in the "Ahonoora" Handicap next month, Current Option will be joined by Galway regulars Saltonstall (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Sirjack Thomas (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) and Casanova (GB) (Frankel {GB}), all of whom were seen stretching their legs on the...

Horse Racing Ireland has released its full Flat programme for June and its July fixture list. The release included news of the Galway Festival, which will be run on its original dates of July 27 to August 2 but with some changes. The opening two days and the final two days of the meeting will feature Flat racing only, with National Hunt racing on the three cards in between. Racing in Ireland resumes on June 8 with a meeting at Naas. Jason Morris, HRI's director of racing, said, "We recognise...