Galway Advertiser 2008/GA_2008_07_10/GA_1007_E1_108.pdf 

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GOING RACING

July 10 2008

Raise your glasses for Race Week 2008: Lynda Duffy, former Miss Ireland, Emily-Jean O'Byrne, jewellery designer, and Niall Dalton, general manager launching the House Hotel's race week entertainment programme. The city centre boutique hotel promises cocktails, entertainment, and an exciting social scene for the week of the Galway Races. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

A fashionable bet at this year's Galway Races
otly tipped as one of the most fashionable dates at this year's Galway Race Week is the prestigious Galway Black Tie Ball in aid of Fighting Blindness. This high-profile event takes place on Tuesday July 29, in the Hotel Meyrick which is conveniently located in the heart of Galway city on Eyre Square. A highlight of Galway's race week social diary, the Fighting Blindness Black Tie Ball promises to be a feast of fine food and wine, with top entertainment to keep guests revelling into the small hours. The ball will raise funds for ongoing research in Irish universities into cures and treatments for all forms of blindness which affects 65,000 adults and children in Ireland alone. Fighting Blindness funds research projects in six leading centres around Ireland and the charity is committed to the promotion of Irish research. Avril Daly, head of public affairs at Fighting Blindness, said: "We fund research and a unique counselling centre for people who have eye conditions leading to sight-loss. Losing your vision is an extremely frightening and isolating process. That's why it's vital we step up our research efforts, some of which are on the brink of finding cures. "We need 3.5 million this year to continue our work. The racing community has always been a great supporter of our charity so we're delighted that the Hotel Meyrick and the Galway racing set are supporting us with this prestigious event." Tickets for The Black Tie Ball in aid of Fighting Blindness at Hotel Meyrick on July 29 are 180 each or 1,800 for a table of 10. To book your place now, contact Fighting Blindness on 01 709 3050, email fundraising@fightingblindness.ie, or call the Hotel Meyrick on 091 564041.

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Demonstrating race day style at its finest, model Karen Fitzpatrick strikes a pose in a stunning Philip Treacy creation from The Design Centre in Powerscourt, to highlight the forthcoming Black Tie Ball in aid of Fighting Blindness, which is taking place at the Hotel Meyrick in Galway July 29.

Galway Races to break 2m barrier
It is set to break the 2 million barrier during the week long festival from July 28 to August 3. The feature event of the week, the Willian Hill Galway Plate now boasts a prize fund of 240,000, while the Guinness Galway Hurdle now totals 220,000. The other main races are: Tote Galway Mile 160,000, Michael McNamara & Co. Builders Dublin & Galway Handicap 150,000, GPT Qualified Riders Handicap 100,000, Guinness Handicap 70,000, Freshways Handicap Hurdle 55,000, Tony O'Malley Memorial Handicap 50,000 McDonogh Properties Steeplechase 50,000. The winners of all supporting races will receive a

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his year's Galway Races Summer Festival boasts the biggest prize money on record.

specially commissioned trophy sponsored by Galway Irish Crystal. Racing starts at 5.10pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday; at 1.50pm on Wednesday and Thursday; 2.25pm on Saturday, and 1.45pm on Sunday. Bus Eireann will operate a shuttle bus to and from the races departing outside the Skefflington Arms Hotel in Eyre Square. The Galway Race Committee is pleased that admission prices will remain the same as last year - Monday, Saturday and Sunday 20, Tuesday & Friday 25, Wednesday and Thursday 30. A new Briggs Irrigation watering system has been installed to ensure the ground is in perfect racing condition for the Summer Festival Meeting to ensure the safety of horses and riders. Defribillators have been installed at three locations on the racecourse for this year's meeting.