Galway set to buck attendance trend with strong demand for festival tickets

Despite the cost of living crisis and high fuel prices hammering racecourse attendances Galway is expected to buck the trend, with strong advance ticket sales suggesting the 2022 summer festival will return to pre-Covid levels.

Racegoers were present at the festival last year, but due to government restrictions only 1,000 were permitted entry per day. More than 130,000 people attended the festival when it last operated at full capacity in 2019.

Racecourse manager Michael Moloney is looking forward to welcoming back full capacity crowds and said: “It’s hard to know with numbers where exactly we will be, but we are preparing for a big figure in that region [130,000]. Lots of tickets have been sold and there are lots more to sell.”

As part of a welcome back initiative there is a three-day ticket on offer for €70, permitting entry to any three days of the festival, which runs from July 25-31, and Moloney says they have noticed a strong demand for the meeting’s traditional big days.

He said: “Looking at pre-sales, it looks like Friday will be the busiest day for this year as well. We really have noticed a strong return to the traditional days. Galway Plate day is strong, ladies’ day is very strong.

“We feel we are good value for money. We introduced a three-day ticket for this year and it’s for any three days of the week. It’s probably our highest selling individual type of ticket. We wanted to reward those people who will come for two or three days.”

Michael Moloney: looking forward to welcoming back capacity crowdsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

While racing is front and centre for the week, some other major events are planned, including a post-racing concert from country singer Nathan Carter, while a new partnership has been struck with Connacht Hospitality Group for the best-dressed lady competition, offering a prize of €10,000.

Moloney added: “While racing is central, we are conscious that a lot of people come to Galway for the festival vibe as well. You have people of all ages, and it’s probably one of the few sporting events you can go to where you can meet your parents or grandparents or your son or daughter, there’s a real range of people. We’re fortunate there’s something for everyone.”

The festival has received a major boost in terms of prize-money with the minimum race value across the week rising to €17,000, with a total prize fund of over €2.2 million on offer.

“I think the one that is key for us is the minimum race value throughout the week,” Moloney said. “We got that up to €17,000 this year. I think that’s warranted given the cost of keeping horses in training. People like to target Galway and if they manage to come into the winner's enclosure they’ll have a nice return in terms of prize-money, for all races.”

This year’s festival will also feature a return to mixed cards throughout the week, something that was ruled out by Covid regulations for the past two festivals.

Moloney said: “That’s top of the agenda for me. I think it’s part and parcel of the success of Galway and it’s massively popular. There are very few mixed cards left in the country, and I think it’s something we need to retain in Galway.

“I know it’s not easy for some people in the industry, but from a spectator point of view, that’s what they want. That’s what they’re coming to Galway for.

“I think Horse Racing Ireland has done a good job in keeping the popularity up. The interest in horseracing has grown over the past few years and it’s up to us as racecourses to start showcasing that.”

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