Galway Summer Racing Festival
Why Galway Matters in High‑Summer
Ireland’s seven‑day Galway Races Summer Festival is the biggest week of racing on the Irish calendar. Organisers expect around 130,000 racegoers through the gates at Ballybrit.
The meeting which blends afternoon Flat and evening National Hunt action serves traders a dense run of liquidity when most UK courses are quiet.
Key Dates & Feature Races
- Mon 28 July – Opening Day: seven‑race card from 15:55.
- Tue 29 July – Colm Quinn BMW Mile Evening: competitive mile handicap.
- Wed 30 July – Tote Galway Plate Day: €270k Grade 3 handicap chase (2 m 6½ f) off at 18:40.
- Thu 31 July – Ladies Day & Guinness Galway Hurdle: €270k Grade A hurdle; 14:10 first post.
Prize Money Snapshot
- Total festival fund: €2.171 million across 53 races.
- Minimum per race: €17,000; each day’s feature worth €110,000+
- Tote Galway Plate: €270,000 pot; winner pockets €159,300
- Guinness Galway Hurdle: €270,000 pot; winner lands €162,000
Exchange Market Dynamics
Average matched turnover on the win markets sits below the big British festivals, but it’s a very welcome boost to the year on both Betfair and Betdaq.
Betdaq performs particulary well at the Festival. Being an Irish company and having a large share of on -course volume these markets perform particularly well on Betdaq.
I don’t expect there to be any earth shattering results, but I do expect lots of decent opportunities adding up to a nice total on the week.
Every now and again some great opportunties pop up, so fingers crossed, we get some of those as well.
Final Thoughts
The Galway Festival’s blend of stout prize money, evening racing and festival buzz turns what looks like a mid‑tier meeting into a prime trading playground. Arrive with a plan, respect the weather, and let the Irish roar work in your favour. See you in Ballybrit—good luck and good trading!