CROWDS DOWN SLIGHTLY BUT TOTE BETTING UP AT GALWAY PLATE DAY

Date Published: 02-Aug-2012

The unseasonal weather didn't deter too many people at Ballybrit yesterday where the crowd of just over 18 thousand was just a thousand down on last year

The smaller crowd did however spend more on the tote, although it would seem to have been at the cost of the bookmakers

The tote turnover of just over 930 thousand was 90 thousand up on last year while the bookies spend of one point five million was 450 thousand down on Plate Day last year

The new look Galway Plate, sponsored by Tote was won by JP McManus whose horse 'Bob Lingo' took the feature race of the day at 16 to 1

The prize was presented to JP's wife Noreen by the designer NCAD student Matthew Lynch and All Star Galway hurler Joe Canning

Today there will be equal focus on fields and fashion

The feature race the Guinness Galway hurdle is the richest national hunt race to be run in Ireland this year with a prize fund of 260 thousand euros

The style stakes will be high with a prize fund of 20 thousand euro for the Anthony Ryan's Ladies Day Best Dressed and Best Hat competitions

Former Miss World Rosanna Davison joins the judging panel