The Galway races are renowned for fashion, pints and plenty of craic, but don’t forget they can also be a chance to win some cash and immerse yourself in the sport.
Mark Costello of The Irish Field advises sticking with betting traditions and being wise about whose tips you trust.
“The absolute best piece of advice for how to make up your mind on which horse to back is to simply sidle up to someone who looks like they might know what they’re doing and just say: ‘Have you any advice for me in this race? I’m not doing too well, have you heard anything?’”
He recommends cutting out the racing page from a daily paper and writing in the latest betting odds.
Keep it Simple
Although betting apps are easier, they have some issues. The signal will be unreliable because of the amount of people and also you will be missing out on the unique atmosphere of the bustling betting ring in Galway.
“From 100 years ago, very little has changed except the boards are now digital instead of chalk … It might be where you could pick up a tip as well,” Mark says. Mark also advises against relying on the racecard on the day because it can be misleading. The tipsters who write them are notorious for craftily giving every horse a slight chance to prevent them from dismissing the winning horse.
Watch out for the holidaymakers at the tote (betting pool) queue because this is not the place to pick up tips. According to Mark, the shrewder punters would not bet there and it tends to be filled with people who have €2 on the “nice brown horse or the jockey with the purple cap”, so steer clear (unless you really have a gut feeling about the one with the shiny coat).
Talented Trainers
Keeping an eye on successful trainers is another method of choosing the right horse. Dermot Weld has traditionally been supreme, but Mark says to look for horses trained by Willie Mullins, Jessica Harrington, Joseph O’Brien and Gordon Elliott.
Also watch out for the return of Ruby Walsh who has been off the track with an injury lately, but is expected to make a comeback on the Monday of the races.
“You would imagine that his trainer Willie Mullins would be sure to put him on a winner in the very first race. Have a tenner on Ruby Walsh and then maybe go straight to the bar and just brag that you had the first winner,” says Mark.
Newcross the horse, trained by Tony Martin, is another one to keep an eye out for because he recently won at Roscommon.
Insider’s Tips
It’s not just the win that makes for a great Galway Races. Kieran O’Malley of the Connacht Hotel has advice on making the most of your time with the Tribes.
1 Guys, wear sunglasses, we’re not sure about the weather but with the hat designs you’ll come across, chatting to the wrong lady could cost you an eyeball.
2 Ladies, bring flats. Like the famous course, the end of the final furlong can be an uphill battle. Bring some comfy shoes to ensure you make it past the finishing post.
Suzanne McGarry, a previous winner at the Galway races.
3 Bring a brolly. It’s Galway – at some stage the fake tan will be running faster than the horses.4 The old long walk on a grand soft day isn’t the only place you’ll meet a Galway girl. With 53% of the adult population single, Galway is Ireland’s singles capital, the hotels are the place to be this week for fun and frolics. As the ad used to say: “You haven’t lived till you’ve kissed a stranger at the Galway Races.”5 Don’t forget a charger. Galway is a festival of friends. Whether you’re taking selfies or arranging the next pub to meet in, you’ll be busy keeping in touch with everyone this week.6 Soakage is key. Galway is a gastronomic mecca lately, so make sure to book early if you hope to enjoy one of its amazing restaurants or it’ll be snackboxes all round. Breakfast is key, be it a full Irish in An Pucan or brunch in Hyde Bar. Plan ahead – fail to prepare, prepare to fail!7 Bus it. The fastest and more practical way to get to Ballybrit is from Eyre Square on one of the countless busses making a trip out. The guys have it down to a fine art so unless you have the chopper on standby, buses are the way to go. 8 Write down your address, the suburbs of Galway can look and sound remarkably similar to a non local. If you’re in an AirBnB, make sure to keep the address handy or you’ll have an expensive tour of the town.9 Dress to impress. Racegoers are known for enjoying the craic but the one thing they take seriously is fashion. If you think your outfit is a bit OOT, trust me it’s not, you’ll see every colour, cut, trend and style in Galway and that’s just the lads.10 Let your hair down. The Galway Races are about fun, you don’t need to be an equine expert to enjoy one of Ireland’s greatest sporting occasions.
The Galway races are renowned for fashion, pints and plenty of craic, but don’t forget they can also be a chance to win some cash and immerse yourself in the sport.
Mark Costello of The Irish Field advises sticking with betting traditions and being wise about whose tips you trust.
“The absolute best piece of advice for how to make up your mind on which horse to back is to simply sidle up to someone who looks like they might know what they’re doing and just say: ‘Have you any advice for me in this race? I’m not doing too well, have you heard anything?’”
He recommends cutting out the racing page from a daily paper and writing in the latest betting odds.
Keep it Simple
Although betting apps are easier, they have some issues. The signal will be unreliable because of the amount of people and also you will be missing out on the unique atmosphere of the bustling betting ring in Galway.
“From 100 years ago, very little has changed except the boards are now digital instead of chalk … It might be where you could pick up a tip as well,” Mark says. Mark also advises against relying on the racecard on the day because it can be misleading. The tipsters who write them are notorious for craftily giving every horse a slight chance to prevent them from dismissing the winning horse.
Watch out for the holidaymakers at the tote (betting pool) queue because this is not the place to pick up tips. According to Mark, the shrewder punters would not bet there and it tends to be filled with people who have €2 on the “nice brown horse or the jockey with the purple cap”, so steer clear (unless you really have a gut feeling about the one with the shiny coat).
Talented Trainers
Keeping an eye on successful trainers is another method of choosing the right horse. Dermot Weld has traditionally been supreme, but Mark says to look for horses trained by Willie Mullins, Jessica Harrington, Joseph O’Brien and Gordon Elliott.
Also watch out for the return of Ruby Walsh who has been off the track with an injury lately, but is expected to make a comeback on the Monday of the races.
“You would imagine that his trainer Willie Mullins would be sure to put him on a winner in the very first race. Have a tenner on Ruby Walsh and then maybe go straight to the bar and just brag that you had the first winner,” says Mark.
Newcross the horse, trained by Tony Martin, is another one to keep an eye out for because he recently won at Roscommon.
Insider’s Tips
It’s not just the win that makes for a great Galway Races. Kieran O’Malley of the Connacht Hotel has advice on making the most of your time with the Tribes.
1 Guys, wear sunglasses, we’re not sure about the weather but with the hat designs you’ll come across, chatting to the wrong lady could cost you an eyeball.
2 Ladies, bring flats. Like the famous course, the end of the final furlong can be an uphill battle. Bring some comfy shoes to ensure you make it past the finishing post.
Suzanne McGarry, a previous winner at the Galway races.
3 Bring a brolly. It’s Galway – at some stage the fake tan will be running faster than the horses.4 The old long walk on a grand soft day isn’t the only place you’ll meet a Galway girl. With 53% of the adult population single, Galway is Ireland’s singles capital, the hotels are the place to be this week for fun and frolics. As the ad used to say: “You haven’t lived till you’ve kissed a stranger at the Galway Races.”5 Don’t forget a charger. Galway is a festival of friends. Whether you’re taking selfies or arranging the next pub to meet in, you’ll be busy keeping in touch with everyone this week.6 Soakage is key. Galway is a gastronomic mecca lately, so make sure to book early if you hope to enjoy one of its amazing restaurants or it’ll be snackboxes all round. Breakfast is key, be it a full Irish in An Pucan or brunch in Hyde Bar. Plan ahead – fail to prepare, prepare to fail!7 Bus it. The fastest and more practical way to get to Ballybrit is from Eyre Square on one of the countless busses making a trip out. The guys have it down to a fine art so unless you have the chopper on standby, buses are the way to go. 8 Write down your address, the suburbs of Galway can look and sound remarkably similar to a non local. If you’re in an AirBnB, make sure to keep the address handy or you’ll have an expensive tour of the town.9 Dress to impress. Racegoers are known for enjoying the craic but the one thing they take seriously is fashion. If you think your outfit is a bit OOT, trust me it’s not, you’ll see every colour, cut, trend and style in Galway and that’s just the lads.10 Let your hair down. The Galway Races are about fun, you don’t need to be an equine expert to enjoy one of Ireland’s greatest sporting occasions.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: