The Galway Plate is a National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Galway over a distance of about 2 miles and 6 1⁄2 furlongs (2 miles 6 furlongs and 111 yards, or 4,779 metres), and during its running there are fourteen fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.
| Grade A race | |
| Location | Galway Races, Galway, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1869 |
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | Tote Ireland |
| Website | Galway Races |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2 miles 6 and a half furlongs (4,778 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Qualification | Four-years-old and up |
| Weight | Handicap |
| Purse | €300,000 (2019) 1st: €177,000 |
| 2024 | ||
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| Pinkerton | Duffle Coat | Zanahiyr |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||
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| Ash Tree Meadow | Authorized Art | Hollow Games |
| 2022 | ||
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| Hewick | Darasso | El Barra |
| 2021 | ||
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| Royal Rendezvous | Easy Game | Modus |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
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| Early Doors | Royal Rendezvous | Cabaret Queen |
| 2019 | ||
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| Borice | Black Corton | Snugsborough Benny |
| 2018 | ||
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| Clarcam | Patricks Park | Jury Duty |
| 2017 | ||
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| Balko Des Flos | Shaneshill | Slowmotion |
| 2016 | ||
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| Lord Scoundrel | Alelchi Inois | Ballycasey |
| 2015 | ||
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| Shanahan's Turn | The Paparrazi Kid | Sadler's Risk |
| 2014 | ||
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| Road To Riches | Burn And Turn | Balnaslow |
| 2013 | ||
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| Carlingford Lough | Quantitativeeasing | Jacksonslady |
| 2012 | ||
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| Bob Lingo | Casey Top | Blackstairmountain |
| 2011 | ||
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| Blazing Tempo | Wise Old Owl | Aigle D'or |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
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| Finger Onthe Pulse | Themoonandsixpence | Majestic Concorde |
| 2009 | ||
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| Ballyholland | Knock On The Head | Washington Lad |
| 2008 | ||
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| Oslot | Oodachee | Ansar |
| 2007 | ||
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| Sir Frederick | Ballyagran | Cool Running |
| 2006 | ||
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| Far From Trouble | Ansar | Dix Villez |
| 2005 | ||
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| Ansar | Ursumman | Light On The Broom |
| 2004 | ||
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| Ansar | Risk Accessor | Manjoe |
| 2003 | ||
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| Nearly A Moose | Kadoun | Glynn Dingle |
| 2002 | ||
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| Rockholm Boy | Wotsitooya | Ridgewood Water |
| 2001 | ||
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| Grimes | Quinze | Dovaly |
| 2000-1992 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
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| Dovaly | Monty's Pass | Palette |
| 1999 | ||
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| Moscow Express | Lucky Town | Nicholls Cross |
| 1998 | ||
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| Amlah | Lucky Town | Corket |
| 1997 | ||
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| Stroll Home | Idiots Venture | Derrymoyle |
| 1996 | ||
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| Life Of A Lord | Bishops Hall | King Wah Glory |
| 1995 | ||
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| Life Of A Lord | Kelly's Pearl | Loshian |
| 1994 | ||
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| Feathered Gale | Minister For Fun | Mubadir |
| 1993 | ||
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| General Idea | Harristown Lady | Galevilla Express |
| 1992 | ||
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| The Gooser | Baptismal Fire | Four Trix |
The event is held during the seven-day Galway Festival meeting. It was established in 1869, and the inaugural running was won by Absentee. The most successful horse in the race's history is Tipperary Boy, who won three times – in 1899, 1901 and 1902. It was formerly contested over 2 miles and 5 furlongs, but this was extended to 2 miles and 6 furlongs in 1992 and extended by a further half a furlong to the present distance in 2015. The Galway Plate was sponsored by William Hill from 2006 to 2010 and by Tote Ireland since 2011.
Anne Collen was the first lady trainer winning the plate with Randoss in the 1987 Galway Plate National Hunt Chase. Her sister, Sarah Collen, was also the first lady jockey to win the Galway Plate aboard Bold Flyer in 1989.
Records
editMost successful horse since 1988 (2 wins):
- Life of a Lord – 1995, 1996
- Ansar – 2004, 2005
Leading jockey since 1988 (2 wins):
- Adrian Maguire – The Gooser (1992), General Idea (1993)
- Ruby Walsh – Moscow Express (1999), Oslot (2008)
- Mark Walsh – Bob Lingo (2012), Early Doors (2020)
- Paul Townend - Blazing Tempo (2011), Royal Rendevzous (2021)
Leading trainer since 1988 (4 wins):
- Dermot Weld – Kiichi (1990), General Idea (1993), Ansar (2004, 2005)
- Gordon Elliott - Lord Scoundrel (2016), Clarcam (2018), Borice (2019), Ash Tree Meadow (2023)
Winners since 1988
edit| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Weight |
Jockey |
Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Afford a King | 8 | 09-10 | Padge Gill | Tony Mullins |
| 1989 | Bold Flyer | 6 | 09-07 | Sarah Collen | Jim Dreaper |
| 1990 | Kiichi | 5 | 11-03 | Brendan Sheridan | Dermot Weld |
| 1991 | Firions Law | 6 | 10-08 | Mickey Flynn | Victor Bowens |
| 1992 | The Gooser | 9 | 10-11 | Adrian Maguire | Paddy Mullins |
| 1993 | General Idea | 8 | 12-00 | Adrian Maguire | Dermot Weld |
| 1994 | Feathered Gale | 7 | 09-11 | Francis Woods | Arthur Moore |
| 1995 | Life of a Lord | 9 | 11-08 | Trevor Horgan | Aidan O'Brien |
| 1996 | Life of a Lord | 10 | 12-00 | Charlie Swan | Aidan O'Brien |
| 1997 | Stroll Home | 7 | 09-12 | Paul Carberry | Jimmy Mangan |
| 1998 | Amlah | 6 | 09-13 | Brendan Powell | Philip Hobbs |
| 1999 | Moscow Express | 7 | 11-04 | Ruby Walsh | Frances Crowley |
| 2000 | Dovaly | 7 | 09-13 | Tom Rudd | Michael O'Brien |
| 2001 | Grimes | 8 | 10-01 | Conor O'Dwyer | Christy Roche |
| 2002 | Rockholm Boy | 9 | 10-05 | Keith Hadnett | Michael Hourigan |
| 2003 | Nearly a Moose | 7 | 10-01 | Robbie Power | Paddy Mullins |
| 2004 | Ansar | 8 | 10-12 | David Casey | Dermot Weld |
| 2005 | Ansar | 9 | 11-11 | Denis O'Regan | Dermot Weld |
| 2006 | Far From Trouble | 7 | 10-04 | Roger Loughran | Christy Roche |
| 2007 | Sir Frederick | 7 | 09-10 | Kevin Coleman | Liam Burke |
| 2008 | Oslot | 6 | 10-13 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2009 | Ballyholland[1] | 8 | 10-09 | Andrew McNamara | Colin McBratney |
| 2010 | Finger Onthe Pulse | 9 | 10-12 | Tony McCoy | Tom Taaffe |
| 2011 | Blazing Tempo | 7 | 10-04 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2012 | Bob Lingo | 10 | 10-03 | Mark Walsh | Thomas Mullins |
| 2013 | Carlingford Lough | 7 | 10-07 | Tony McCoy | John Kiely |
| 2014 | Road To Riches | 7 | 10-11 | Shane Shortall | Noel Meade |
| 2015 | Shanahan's Turn | 7 | 10-10 | Johnny Burke | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2016 | Lord Scoundrel | 7 | 10-02 | Donagh Meyler | Gordon Elliott |
| 2017 | Balko Des Flos | 6 | 10-10 | Davy Russell | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2018 | Clarcam | 8 | 10-13 | Mark Enright | Gordon Elliott |
| 2019 | Borice | 8 | 10-02 | Luke Dempsey | Gordon Elliott |
| 2020 | Early Doors | 7 | 10-05 | Mark Walsh | Joseph O'Brien |
| 2021 | Royal Rendezvous | 9 | 11-05 | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins |
| 2022 | Hewick | 7 | 11-07 | Jordan Gainford | John Hanlon |
| 2023 | Ash Tree Meadow | 7 | 09-11 | Danny Gilligan | Gordon Elliott |
| 2024 | Pinkerton | 8 | 10-04 | Donagh Meyler | Noel Meade |
Earlier winners
edit- 1869 - Absentee
- 1872 - Belle
- 1879 - Liberator
- 1882 - Sugar Plum
- 1891 - Queen of the May
- 1897 - Drogheda
- 1899 - Tipperary Boy
- 1901 - Tipperary Boy
- 1902 - Tipperary Boy
- 1905 - Goldfield
- 1906 - Royal Tara
- 1910 - Ashbrooke
- 1913 - George B
- 1915 - Hill of Camas
- 1917 - Privit
- 1934 - Reviewer
- 1937 - Brighter Cottage
- 1945 - Grecian Victory
- 1950 - Derrinstown
- 1951 - St Kathleen II
- 1952 - Alberoni
- 1953 - Gallant Wolf
- 1954 - Amber Point
- 1955 - Umm
- 1956 - Amber Point
- 1957 - Knight Errant
- 1958 - Hopeful Colleen
- 1959 - Highfield Lad
- 1960 - Sparkling Flame
- 1961 - Clipador
- 1962 - Carraroe
- 1963 - Blunts Cross
- 1964 - Ross Sea
- 1965 - Ross Sea
- 1966 - Cappawhite
- 1967 - Royal Day
- 1968 - Terossian
- 1969 - Royal Day
- 1970 - Lisnaree
- 1971 - Sarejay Day
- 1972 - Persian Lark
- 1973 - Leap Frog
- 1974 - Bunclody Tiger
- 1975 - Our Albert
- 1976 - O'Leary
- 1977 - Spittin' Image
- 1978 - Shining Flame
- 1979 - Hindhope
- 1980 - Sir Barry
- 1981 - Rugged Lucy
- 1982 - The Lady's Master
- 1983 - Hamers Flame
- 1984 - Master Player
- 1985 - Chow Mein
- 1986 - Boro Quarter
- 1987 - Randoss
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Ballyholland powers to Galway Plate glory". RTÉ Sport. 29 July 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
- Racing Post:
- carlow-nationalist.ie – "All set for another Ballybrit Bonanza" (2006).
- galway-races.net – "History of the Galway Festival".
- tbheritage.com – "Galway Plate – Search Results".
- timesonline.co.uk[dead link] – "Glorious Galway" (2006).