Two days of racing from this year’s Galway Races Summer Festival will be broadcast live on TG4, the station has confirmed today.
The coverage on TG4 will be broadcast on 30 and 31 July and will include a packed race card with 15 races shown over the two days.
The live coverage from Ballybrit will be a welcome return to the racecourse for the Irish language broadcaster, who last aired the races in 2006.
2021 saw a concerted increase in Irish Horseracing coverage for the station, providing live racing to fans over 10 weeks from venues including Leopardstown, Punchestown, Naas, Cork, Limerick, Dundalk, Navan and Sligo.
Rásaí Beo will be presented by Seán Bán Breathnach, with analysis by Mánus Ó Conghaile and Evelyn Ní Ghriallais.
Racing journalist Daragh Ó Conchúir will be getting all the reactions from trainers, owners and jockeys outside the parade ring and race commentary will be provided by Cárthach Breathnach.
CEO of Galway Racecourse, Michael Moloney said: “We are delighted to have the team from TG4 broadcast live from Galway Racecourse on both the Friday and Saturday of our Summer Festival this year.
“In the current times, we really miss our loyal supporters here in Ballybrit that come year after year, and bring such magic to our event, so this news that they can get close to the action this Summer is very much welcomed.
“The Galway Races is a multi-generational event and such a huge part of Summer tradition and Irish culture.”
He said that in total, viewers at home throughout Ireland tuning into TG4 will get to see fifteen races live on television, and will feature The Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle, The Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Steeplechase, and The Galway Shopping Centre Handicap with a total prize fund in excess of €500,000 over the two days.
“The team at TG4 have always been hugely progressive and are great supporters of Irish racing and our Festival,” added Mr Moloney.
“On behalf of our fans and the Galway Race Committee, I would like to thank them for making this happen. We look forward to working with the team in TG4 both in the build up to and during race week.”
TG4’s Head of Sport, Rónán Ó Coisdealbha said that horse racing became an integral part of the station’s sporting output this year, and said that they are looking forward to continuing this with TG4’s free-to-air coverage from Ireland’s largest horse racing meet.
“We are particularly excited to be back in Ballybrit for the first time in 15 years, and to bring all the thrills that comes with this iconic festival to the viewers at home,” said Rónán Ó Coisdealbha.
The full TG4 Galway Races schedule
FRIDAY 30 JULY
Live coverage begins on TG4 at 3.45pm
1st race, 4pm: The James’s Gate Maiden Hurdle
2nd race, 4.30pm: The Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle
3rd race, 5pm: The Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle
4th race, 5.30pm: The Guinness Handicap Hurdle
5th race, 6.05pm: The Guinness Beginners Steeplechase
6th race, 6.40pm: The Arthur Guinness Steeplechase
7th race, 7.10pm: The Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Steeplechase
SATURDAY 31 JULY
Live coverage begins on TG4 at 12.30pm
1st race, 12.50pm: The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden
2nd race, 1.22pm: The Galway Shopping Centre Maiden
3rd race, 1.57pm: The O’Leary Insurances Handicap
4th race, 2.32pm: The Galway Shopping Centre Handicap
5th race, 3.10pm: The Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden
6th race, 3.45pm: The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery Handicap
7th race, 4.20pm: The Galway Shopping Centre Handicap
8th race, 4.50pm: The McDonogh Capital Investments Handicap
