Crowds and betting well up for day 5 at Ballybrit

Galway bay fm newsroom - The much improved weather saw punters return in numbers to Ballybrit last eveningThe attendance of just over 23 and a half thousand was just over 3 thousand up on the Friday meet last yearBetting was well up with the bookmakers taking in just under 1.4 million, 270 thousand euro more than last yearThe Tote was also up with bets of 686 thousand euros, an increase of 95 thousand euroThe Noel Meade trained Curley Bill won the lucrative mile and a half Guinness Handicap, the feature race on Day 5.Curley Bill is part owned by Philip and ‘Abbie’ Reynolds, sons of former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.It was also a stylish affair with the first ever 'my fair lady contest' won by a thrilled Patricia Carty from Mayo.Meanwhile, a horse part owned by the late broadcaster Colm Murray will run in today's meeting - Sweet my lord rides in the Ladbrokes handicap hurdle.Today's racing at Ballybrit gets underway at 2pm with full live coverage here on Galway Bay fm