FIFTY years ago Galway was a three-day festival of racing, and racegoers could also take in the races at the now defunct Tuam on the way home on the Friday. There were six races on each day of the Galway festival, each having a feature event.

The three days started with an evening meeting, followed by two days when racegoers had an earlier start. The feature on the first evening was the Player’s Navy Cut Amateur Handicap and the race carried prize money that was just half of the value of the Galway Plate the following day. The Plate was one of the most valuable races run all year in Ireland.