Intro: why Galway is unlike any other meeting
The Galway Races Summer Festival is often described as unlike any other racing festival because it combines elite horse racing on the Flat and over Jumps with seven days of social and cultural celebration. Throughout the week, the city of Galway comes alive with music, packed pubs, restaurants, street entertainment, and visitors from across Ireland and beyond.
What and when: the seven-day festival
The seven-day festival begins on the last Monday of July each year at Galway Racecourse in Ballybrit, County Galway. In 2026, the Galway Races Summer Festival commences on Monday 27 July and runs until Sunday 2 August.
The week day by day
Monday is Opening Day and is headlined by the Connacht Hotel (QR) Handicap. Day two is Tribes Tuesday, a celebration of community spirit and local pride. The feature race is the prestigious Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap.
Wednesday hosts the famous Galway Plate and is one of the biggest racing days of the week. Thursday is Ladies Day, attracting large crowds and fashion competitions, with the prestigious Galway Hurdle as the feature contest.
Day five is Friday’s Most Stylish, where fashion lovers dress to impress, and the main race is the Guinness Handicap. Saturday is The Weekender, when the Bank Holiday crowds arrive and the BOYLESports Handicap Hurdle takes centre stage.
The final day is Mad Hatter's Family Funday, with the Ahonoora Handicap bringing the meeting to a close.
Feature races: the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle
Galway Plate
The Tote Galway Plate is a handicap chase over 2m 6f 111y and is worth €162,000 to the winner. It is one of the two feature contests at the Galway Races Summer Festival, alongside the Guinness Galway Hurdle.
The Galway Plate has been won by many top-class horses in recent years, including future Grade 1 winners Road To Riches in 2014 and Hewick in 2022. It is Wednesday's highlight at the Galway Festival, and the 2026 renewal is set to take place at 6.40pm on 29 July.
The current ante-post market leader for the Tote Galway Plate is the Willie Mullins-trained Funiculi Funicula, who won his two most recent starts at Cork and the Punchestown Festival.
Visit our Galway Plate racecards for the latest runners and riders, tips, odds comparisons, and free bets for Wednesday's big race.
Galway Plate: Previous winners since 2005
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer | Jockey | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good | 22 | Western Fold | 6 | 11 10 | 148 | F4632-11 | 65 days | G Elliott | D J Gilligan | 11/ 1 | 5:36.00 |
| 2024 | Good | 22 | Pinkerton | 8 | 10 4 | 138 | 03351-1 | 90 days | N Meade | Donagh Meyler | 20/ 1 | 5:36.00 |
| 2023 | Good - Yielding | 22 | Ash Tree Meadow | 7 | 10 4 | 145 | 1422-23 | 29 days | G Elliott | Danny Gilligan | 13/ 2 | 5:37.08 |
| 2022 | Good | 21 | Hewick | 7 | 11 7 | 155 | 121P1-2 | 57 days | J J Hanlon | Jordan Gainford | 16/ 1 | 5:34.10 |
| 2021 | Good | 22 | Royal Rendezvous | 9 | 11 5 | 153 | 3512-01 | 64 days | W P Mullins | Paul Townend | 5/ 1 | 5:25.00 |
| 2020 | Yielding - Soft | 21 | Early Doors | 7 | 10 5 | 139 | 12262-0 | 33 days | J P O'Brien | Mark Walsh | 7/ 1 | 5:37.50 |
| 2019 | Good | 22 | Borice | 8 | 10 2 | 136 | 7509-11 | 17 days | G Elliott | Luke Dempsey | 9/ 1 | 5:24.00 |
| 2018 | Yielding | 22 | Clarcam | 8 | 10 13 | 147 | 00-1460 | 98 days | G Elliott | Mark Enright | 33/ 1 | 5:29.80 |
| 2017 | Good | 22 | Balko Des Flos | 6 | 10 10 | 146 | 2133F3 | 96 days | H De Bromhead | Davy Russell | 6/ 1 | 5:23.00 |
| 2016 | Yielding | 22 | Lord Scoundrel | 7 | 10 7 | 145 | 23312-5 | 89 days | G Elliott (133 miles) | Donagh Meyler | 10/ 1 | 5:24.40 |
| 2015 | Good | 22 | Shanahan's Turn | 7 | 10 10 | 142 | 115P-F0 | 15 days | H De Bromhead (142 miles) | Jonathan Burke | 16/ 1 | 5:22.30 |
| 2014 | Good | 22 | Road To Riches | 7 | 11 4 | 149 | 13P41-2 | 89 days | N Meade (133 miles) | Shane Shortall | 14/ 1 | 5:20.50 |
| 2013 | Soft | 22 | Carlingford Lough | 7 | 10 7 | 133 | 574PP-2 | 79 days | J E Kiely (142 miles) | A P McCoy | 7/ 2 | 5:41.90 |
| 2012 | Good | 20 | Bob Lingo | 10 | 10 3 | 139 | 213-052 | 14 days | T Mullins (131 miles) | Mark Walsh | 16/ 1 | 5:41.70 |
| 2011 | Good | 22 | Blazing Tempo | 7 | 10 4 | 139 | 21125-2 | 82 days | W P Mullins (56 miles) | Paul Townend | 5/ 1 | 5:24.00 |
| 2010 | Good | 22 | Finger Onthe Pulse | 9 | 10 12 | 138 | 60-7PFU | 98 days | T J Taaffe (113 miles) | A P McCoy | 22/ 1 | 5:21.20 |
| 2009 | Soft | 20 | Ballyholland | 8 | 10 9 | 131 | 51P6-51 | 38 days | C A McBratney (88 miles) | A J McNamara | 16/ 1 | 5:42.90 |
| 2008 | Good | 22 | Oslot | 6 | 10 13 | 135 | 811121 | 96 days | P F Nicholls | Ruby Walsh | 11/ 4 | 5:28.00 |
| 2007 | Soft | 25 | Sir Frederick | 7 | 9 13 | 127 | 215P41 | 118 days | W J Burke (123 miles) | K T Coleman | 12/ 1 | 5:31.00 |
| 2006 | Good | 25 | Far From Trouble | 7 | 10 4 | 128 | 2-5123F | 107 days | C Roche (113 miles) | R Loughran | 8/ 1 | 5:21.40 |
| 2005 | Good to Firm | 25 | Ansar | 9 | 12 0 | 135 | 7130-04 | 17 days | D K Weld (113 miles) | Denis O'Regan | 10/ 1 | 5:23.20 |
Galway Hurdle
The Guinness Galway Hurdle is a two-mile handicap contested over smaller obstacles and is worth €162,000 to the winner.
The Galway Hurdle has been won by many smart hurdlers in recent years, including Overturn in 2010 and Sharjah in 2018. It is Thursday's highlight at the Galway Festival, and the 2026 renewal is set to take place at 4.30pm on 30 July.
The current ante-post favourite for the Guinness Galway Hurdle is the Gordon Elliott-trained El Cairos - Elliott saddled Ndaawi to victory last year.
Visit our Galway Hurdle racecards for the latest runners and riders, tips, odds comparisons, and free bets for Thursday's big race.
Galway Hurdle: Previous winners since 2005
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good (Good to Yielding in places) | 19 | Ndaawi | 5 | 11 7 | 145 | 3136/22- | 139 days | J P O'Brien (131 miles) | J J Slevin | 13/ 2 | 3:40.30 |
| 2024 | Good | 19 | Nurburgring | 4 | 10 10 | 139 | 2134-36 | 14 days | J P O'Brien (131 miles) | J J Slevin | 13/ 2 | 3:40.30 |
| 2023 | Good - Yielding | 19 | Zarak The Brave | 4 | 11 5 | 145 | 32122-3 | 74 days | W P Mullins (56 miles) | Paul Townend | 9/ 2 | 3:38.80 |
| 2022 | Good | 20 | Tudor City | 10 | 11 4 | 136 | 1040-13 | 34 days | A J Martin (133 miles) | Liam McKenna | 22/ 1 | 3:36.20 |
| 2021 | Good | 20 | Saldier | 7 | 11 10 | 155 | 667-815 | 44 days | W P Mullins (56 miles) | Mr Patrick Mullins | 18/ 1 | 3:39.40 |
| 2020 | Yielding | 19 | Aramon | 7 | 11 10 | 155 | 26452-1 | 34 days | W P Mullins (56 miles) | Mr Patrick Mullins | 7/ 1 | 3:41.20 |
| 2019 | Good | 18 | Tudor City | 7 | 11 0 | 139 | 2582-25 | 21 days | A J Martin (133 miles) | Robbie Power | 10/ 1 | 3:40.20 |
| 2018 | Soft | 20 | Sharjah | 5 | 11 7 | 146 | F7846-3 | 28 days | W P Mullins (56 miles) | Mr Patrick Mullins | 12/ 1 | 3:45.00 |
| 2017 | Yielding | 20 | Tigris River | 6 | 10 9 | 140 | 445-711 | 26 days | J P O'Brien (131 miles) | B J Geraghty | 5/ 1 | 3:43.60 |
| 2016 | Good - Yielding | 20 | Clondaw Warrior | 9 | 11 5 | 143 | 20013-3 | 40 days | W P Mullins (56 miles) | Ruby Walsh | 9/ 2 | 3:38.50 |
| 2015 | Good | 20 | Quick Jack | 6 | 10 4 | 136 | 13133-2 | 85 days | A J Martin (133 miles) | Denis O'Regan | 9/ 2 | 3:36.50 |
| 2014 | Good | 20 | Thomas Edison | 7 | 10 6 | 135 | 3U0-151 | 67 days | A J Martin (133 miles) | A P McCoy | 7/ 2 | 3:37.10 |
| 2013 | Soft | 20 | Missunited | 6 | 10 8 | 135 | 16-2228 | 24 days | M Winters (123 miles) | Robbie Power | 7/ 1 | 3:58.20 |
| 2012 | Soft | 20 | Rebel Fitz | 7 | 11 5 | 139 | 1124-11 | 11 days | M Winters (123 miles) | Davy Russell | 11/ 2 | 3:45.00 |
| 2011 | Good | 20 | Moon Dice | 6 | 10 4 | 130 | 12346-1 | 87 days | P W Flynn (79 miles) | T J Doyle | 20/ 1 | 3:39.20 |
| 2010 | Good to Firm | 19 | Overturn | 6 | 11 6 | 145 | 2111-21 | 33 days | D McCain Jnr | Graham Lee | 6/ 1 | 3:33.70 |
| 2009 | Soft | 20 | Bahrain Storm | 6 | 11 3 | 142 | 225-081 | 20 days | P J Flynn (142 miles) | Stephen Gray | 20/ 1 | 3:43.20 |
| 2008 | Good | 20 | Indian Pace | 7 | 10 1 | 120 | 6-29435 | 3 days | J E Kiely (142 miles) | Paul Townend | 7/ 1 | 3:39.70 |
| 2007 | Soft | 23 | Farmer Brown | 6 | 10 11 | 130 | 0F3-112 | 29 days | P Hughes (56 miles) | Davy Russell | 9/ 2 | 3:41.70 |
| 2006 | Good to Firm | 23 | Cuan Na Grai | 5 | 10 9 | 123 | 27-3111 | 25 days | P Nolan (172 miles) | P W Flood | 7/ 1 | 3:37.50 |
| 2005 | Good to Firm | 21 | More Rainbows | 5 | 9 10 | 123 | 0-61563 | 11 days | N Meade (133 miles) | Niall Madden | 33/ 1 | 3:36.40 |
Galway Festival tips
Tips will be available for every day of the 2026 Galway Festival on attheraces.com. James Flaherty will take a detailed look at the meeting’s two feature contests — Wednesday’s Galway Plate and Thursday’s Galway Hurdle — analysing every runner in the big-field handicaps and providing his expert selections and verdicts for the two headline races.
The atmosphere and what sets the Galway Festival apart
The atmosphere at the Galway Races Summer Festival is unique compared with many other major racing festivals because it is both a city-wide celebration and a top sporting event. For the week, Ballybrit becomes a social highlight of the summer, attracting large crowds for racing, fashion, music, and the experience of being part of a longstanding tradition with deep local roots.
How to follow the Galway Festival
There will be full coverage of the Galway Festival on attheraces.com, including racecards, the latest betting odds, previews and tips, as well as results, race reports, and free race replays.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Galway races?
The 2026 Galway Races Summer Festival takes place from Monday 27 July to Sunday 2 August.
Where is Galway Racecourse?
Galway Racecourse is in Ballybrit, County Galway. It is located just off the M6 motorway and is only 40 minutes from Shannon Airport.
How many days is the Galway Festival?
The Galway Races Summer Festival is seven days long, and it is commonly called Galway Race Week because the festival lasts a full seven days.
What is the Galway Plate?
The Galway Plate is one of the biggest and most famous horse races held during the Galway Races Summer Festival. It is a valuable National Hunt handicap chase over about 2 miles and 6½ furlongs and traditionally takes place on the Wednesday of the festival.
What is the Galway Hurdle?
The Galway Hurdle is one of the most prestigious races at the Galway Races Summer Festival. It is a lucrative National Hunt hurdle race over about 2 miles and traditionally takes place on the Thursday of the festival.
How do you bet on the Galway races?
You can bet on the Galway races on attheraces.com via our Galway racecards, where you'll also find the latest free bets and exclusive bookmaker offers.
What is the dress code at Galway Racecourse?
There is no official dress code at Irish racecourses, but people often wear smart casual clothing. On Thursday and Friday at the Galway Festival, racegoers often showcase their style and participate in fashion competitions.
