Galway race meeting rescheduled for Monday, October 26, and Tuesday, October 27, following concerns over ground conditions and the expected arrival of Storm Boelo on Saturday morning. Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), working with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), has approved Galway Racecourses request to rearrange its National Hunt and Flat fixtures to ensure racing can take place safely.
The National Hunt meeting originally scheduled for Saturday, October 24, will now take place on Monday, October 26. The Flat meeting planned for Monday will move to Tuesday, October 27, allowing Galway to retain both fixtures within its revised three-day racing schedule.
The decision follows continuous assessments of the track over the previous two days, alongside close monitoring of the weather forecast. With ground conditions already raising concerns and Storm Boelo expected to reach the Galway area on Saturday morning, officials have determined that proceeding with the original fixture would not be the responsible option.
Galway Race Meeting Rescheduled With New Declaration Deadlines
The rearranged National Hunt meeting on Monday, October 26, will return to the entries-at-weights stage. Fresh declarations will be required by 10am on Saturday, October 24, giving trainers and connections a new deadline to confirm their intended runners.
The Flat meeting on Tuesday, October 27, will close for declarations at 10am on Sunday, October 25. The revised deadlines will require connections to adjust their plans in line with the updated racing programme.
The changes will also address a practical limitation involving the Galway track. The innermost line will be the only available course for Flat racing at this fixture, meaning the Flat meeting will need to take place on the final day of the three-day programme.
Moving the Flat card to Tuesday will allow Galway to stage both meetings. Without the rearrangement, the racecourse would only be able to accommodate two days of racing, reducing the programme available to participants and racegoers.
Safety Concerns Drive Galway Fixture Changes
Michael Moloney, chief executive of Galway Racecourse, said the decision followed detailed inspections of the track and discussions with Shane Ryder, the IHRB clerk of the course. The assessments focused on the prevailing ground conditions and the forecast arrival of Storm Boelo.
Moloney said the racecourse was disappointed that Saturday racing could not proceed but considered the revised arrangements the most responsible course of action.
He said the team had carried out continuous assessments over two days and closely monitored the changing weather forecast before agreeing that the meeting could not take place safely.
The chief executive also stressed that the safety and welfare of horses, jockeys, racegoers and staff would remain the priority when making decisions about the fixture.
The revised schedule will move the Saturday National Hunt card to Monday and the original Monday Flat programme to Tuesday. This arrangement will also reflect the limitations of the available Flat racing line and allow both fixtures to remain on the calendar.
Galway Racecourse will thank racegoers, participants and industry partners for their patience and support as the changes take effect. The revised timetable will give connections clear declaration deadlines while allowing the racecourse to respond to the expected weather conditions.
Galway race meeting rescheduled for October 26 and 27 following ground concerns and the expected arrival of Storm Boelo. The National Hunt fixture will take place on Monday, followed by the Flat meeting on Tuesday, with revised declaration deadlines for both cards.
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