THERE is so much going on at Ballybrit in the lead-up to the famous Galway Racing Festival that it would take much more than this column to do justice to it. However, all the hard work is paying off as the track’s general manager Michael Moloney has already put the ‘sold out’ sign up on the corporate hospitality sales for both Wednesday and Thursday, though if you are quick you might get something on Friday. As the saying goes, “Galway races – the place where business happens”.

This is the 149th running of the summer festival, which will feature some 52 races over seven days, and see about 800 horses line up to compete for prizemoney that will be more than €2 million. Last year’s festival saw 145,000 racegoers attend, and what an effort all the team are putting into the push to get this up and past the magical 150,000 number.