130,000 fans are expected to descend on Ballybrit on the outskirts of Galway, Ireland for one of the greatest horse racing festivals.
Article continues below
The Galway Races Summer Festival 2023 with over €2.1 million in prizes for 53 races kicks off on Monday 31 July, with the first race at 5.10pm.
Regarded as Ireland’s largest horse racing festival, the hugely popular Galway Races boasts superb horse racing, hospitality, entertainment with Live Bands and DJ’s, stunning fashion and an electric atmosphere that continues to draw people from all over the world.
Over the seven days of the Galway Races Summer Festival the organizers have over fifty live music performances and entertainers booked.
The Tote Galway Plate Day, one of the best days to enjoy some superb national hunt racing, witness a cracking historic race, and a day celebrating the best of Irish Country Music.
Wednesday 2 August, marks the third day of the Galway Races Summer Festival 2023 with the first race off at 5.10pm. The Tote Galway Plate race has been running at Ballybrit since 1869 with more heritage and prestige than any other race run at Galway Racecourse.
The longstanding Tote Galway Plate is run over a distance of 2 miles 6 furlongs 111 yds with a round of fourteen fences to jump in total. The last two fences, situated three furlongs from the finish, are the closest fences together of any racecourse in the world.
Widely renowned as ‘Ladies Day’ at the Galway Races Summer Festival, Thursday combines the very best in horse racing and stunning fashion. The first of eight national hunt races takes place at 2.10pm.
Thursday features the much sought after Galway Hurdle Handicap race with an impressive prize fund of €250,000 on offer. One of the biggest days in the Irish Racing calendar, this event is also an unmissable day out for fashion lovers.
Mad Hatters Day on Sunday 6, is a hugely popular day with over twenty free activities for children to enjoy including Magic Shows, Inflatable Games, Penalty Shoot Out, Face Painters, Family Photo Booth, Tea-Cup Rides, Birds of Pray, our Miniature Train, plus lots more. ■