BIGGER and better than ever. In the case of Galway Races it is an appropriate claim ahead of this year’s seven-day festival.

Firstly there is the not insignificant matter of prizemoney, the lifeblood of racing. “It’s a huge credit to all our sponsors and Horse Racing Ireland who together have enabled us to offer for the very first time a total prize fund in excess of €2 million, and a feature race every day valued at a minimum of €100,000. It is also pleasing to see the minimum race value of every race set at €15,000,” said general manager Michael Moloney this week.