THE announcement that the Galway Race Festival will, at best, be held behind closed doors came with a mixed set of emotions this week.

While there is huge disappointment that the crowds will be unable to flock to Ballybrit in their droves, the hope that racing might be held behind closed doors is a ray of light for an embattled industry. Galway’s general manager Michael Moloney was pragmatic when I caught up with him this week.