Galway Races: Numbers up but the rain’s still pouring down

After the not quite glorious sunshine of Monday, it was back to more traditional fare at Galway yesterday — impossible weather.

With numbers up on the first day of the festival, it’s looking like it could be one of the bigger years in the West. If the numbers in the city on Monday were anything to go by, it could well be a bumper year.

Galway has a festival reputation at the best of times, but things reach another level during the Galway Races. A simple stroll down Shop St and Quay St becomes a reunion with punters and friends. Win are celebrated, while losses are drowned in an endless supply of pubs and restaurants.

For me, it was a case of the latter. I am perhaps the least knowledgeable racegoer that’s ever lived. Even after seven years of punting in Ballybrit, I have yet to have a winner — something that one prominent bookie told me in jest was “almost statistically impossible”. It’s a wrong I aim to right before Friday.

If I have learned anything about the Galway Races, it’s that you must prepare for tropical and biblical weather — often in the same hour. Yesterday was no different. Along with thousands of punters, I landed up at the track with my jacket on my shoulder and a pep in my step. By the time I made the press tent, I was soaked through.

One man looking very dapper was AP McCoy, who was spending his first year in Galway as an onlooker. In fact, the legendary jockey said quite that a few people were commenting on how well he looked that he’s contemplating a diet.

“This is my first time in Galway not being involved but it’s fine,” he said. “It’s a nice day, it’s nice to be out. Obviously it’s a bit more relaxed and I’m a bit heavier as everyone keeps pointing out which isn’t nice. I’m enjoying dinners a little too much so I’ll have to go on a diet soon.”

AP also revealed that the film about his life and career is due out in November — not that he’s doing much to promote it.

“It’s all right. It’s about me so it’s not that exciting,” he said. “They did a good job of trying to make me look the best they could but l thought they might have Photoshopped me.

“There’s a little bit of personal stuff in it. There’s a lot that was filmed when I decided to retire, having discussions with JP and things. It’s watchable. The director won three Baftas so if he can’t make me look good I’m fucked.”

As a proud Galwegian who can’t back a winner, there was at least some solace to be taken from the fact that there’s not a Galway GAA star in sight.

In recent years, Monday and Tuesday has been a haven for footballers or hurlers knocked out of the championship the previous weekend. Not this year though. In fact, the only hurler on show was former Kilkenny player and amateur jockey James Dowling.

He was joining two-time champion National Hunt jockey Davy Russell to promote the Hurling for Cancer match in Kildare next month. Modest to a fault, the Kilkenny man was not just handy with a hurl but also with a whip.

“I first came to Galway 14 years ago and haven’t looked back since,” he said. “I’ve been in races the last two to three years, had a few winners. Two winners in the last two years, it’s not much but a great achievement.”

Corkman Davy Russell admitted it was a pretty bad week for the Rebels but predicted better times.

“We have a good set-up in Cork and we will be back better and stronger,” he said. “It might just be the kick up the arse they needed. It’s hard to fault anyone, really. It’s just one of those things, it’s just the way it goes.”

Cork out in July and Galway still in the hunt. The times they are a changin’. Now, can I get my maiden win?