From hats ’n’ high heels to children high on cola

AFTER a long week of winners and losers and Ladies madness, it was a far quieter affair at Ballybrit yesterday.

Friday always tends to be a more relaxed affair at the Galway Races, a day when families and locals come out to have a flutter in a more relaxed atmosphere. Instead of hats and high heels, it was buggies and children high on countless bottles of cola.

Galway’s hardworking folk also like to take a sneaky half-day on Friday and turn up for a punt. However not as many turned up this year, as the attendance was 18,258, down more than 10,000 on last year.

But one newlywed couple arrived straight from work and were determined to back a winner despite the teeming rain.

Even the normally cold-hearted bookie had words for the new husband. “You’d think you would take her in out of this weather and buy her a good strong hot whiskey,” he said. A bookie giving out marriage advice to a punter, now that must be a first.

The only thing missing, of course, was the weather. Cold, wet and windy, the stormy weather conditions kept punters at the bars, which on any day in Galway are busy places to be.

Friday is also a day for staff to relax and count their tips. Tips of the monetary kind of course.

As with all tips in Galway it is all about location, location, location. The Champagne tent is quite simply the place to be as a staff member. Unlike the bars, where hard earned drinking money is kept a little closer to the chest, people who venture into the Champagne tent are willing let the contents of their wallet flow a little easier.

“Ah I couldn’t tell you about my tips. I’m doing okay for the week but I suppose it is not as busy as other years,” one cautious barman said.

The prices in the bars are also competitive. A pint of plain is a very respectable €4.20. It is the same for Budweiser, while if you fancy a pint of Harp, it will cost you an even €5. It is all very different fare over in the Champagne Tent. No plastic pint glasses over there. Instead punters are treated to glasses, comfortable chairs and flower displays.

Such luxury doesn’t come cheap, however. Prices for a bottle of bubbly range from €70 to €160. Slightly cheaper than last year, but still pricey for six little glasses.

To make matters worse, yesterday was another great day for the bookies. Leon Blanche of Boylesports had no words of comfort for Galway gamblers.

“It is a continuation of Wednesday and Thursday really. Punters are getting no luck in Galway whereas the last three days have been fantastic for the bookies.”

At least one proud Galwegian was staying positive. Looking skyward as buckets of rain poured from the heavens, he was positively upbeat. “Ah sure it is only a shower. I’d say it will only last an hour or so."