This guide to Galway racecourse covers the main meetings, how to get there and what to check before you bet. Galway Racecourse is at Ballybrit, about 6 km from Galway city centre, and hosts both jump and flat racing. Its big week is the Summer Festival, seven days that traditionally run into the August bank holiday weekend, with themed days such as Ladies Day.
- Galway Racecourse is at Ballybrit, about 6 km from Galway city centre, and stages jumps and flat racing.
- Summer Festival: seven days, traditionally running into the August bank holiday weekend.
- Feature races: the Galway Plate, which dates to 1869, and the Galway Hurdle.
What is racing like at Galway?
Away from the festival, the course also stages a two-day meeting in September and a three-day festival in October.
Main meetings and races at Galway
- Galway Summer Festival: Seven days, traditionally into the August bank holiday weekend.
- Galway Plate: A steeplechase handicap, first run in 1869, and the festival’s best-known jumps race.
- Galway Hurdle: The festival’s big handicap hurdle.
- September meeting: Two days.
- October festival: Three days.
Our Galway Races betting guide covers the festival in more detail, from each-way terms in big handicaps to how to bet across seven days.
How do you get to Galway?
The course is just off the M6, about 6 km from Galway city. During the festival, shuttle buses run from Eyre Square to the racecourse, and return services continue after the races. Trains run to Galway city.
Shannon Airport is about 40 minutes away, Knock about an hour, Dublin about two hours and Cork about two and a half hours.
How do you bet at Galway?
Galway is known for competitive handicaps with big fields. That makes prices longer and each-way terms important, so check how many places each bookmaker pays and at what fraction. Our each way calculator works out the win and place returns.
A seven-day festival also makes it easy to overspend. Set a limit before the week, and read our responsible gambling guide.
What should you check before betting at Galway?
- The going, which can change through the festival week.
- Whether the race is a handicap, where weights and ratings matter, or a conditions race.
- Each-way terms in big fields, which vary by bookmaker.
Our guide to assessing a race goes through the racecard, the going and the odds step by step, and the horse racing betting guide explains terms such as each-way, Rule 4 and non-runners.
Related guides
- Horse racing in Ireland: courses and festivals
- Horse racing tips: how to assess a race
- Horse racing betting guide for Irish punters
- Galway Races betting guide
- Listowel Racecourse guide
- The Curragh guide
- Leopardstown guide
- Fairyhouse guide
- Punchestown guide
- Navan Racecourse guide
- Dundalk Stadium guide
- Down Royal guide
- Best odds guaranteed and each-way explained
- Each way calculator
- Betting sites in Ireland
Frequently asked questions
When are the Galway Races?
The Summer Festival runs for seven days, traditionally into the August bank holiday weekend. There is also a two-day meeting in September and a three-day festival in October.
What is the Galway Plate?
A steeplechase handicap first run in 1869 and one of the best-known races at the Summer Festival.
How do I get to Galway Racecourse?
The course is just off the M6, about 6 km from Galway city. During the festival, shuttle buses run from Eyre Square.
Does Galway stage flat racing as well as jumps?
Yes. Galway hosts both jump and flat racing.
Sources and further reading
- Horse Racing Ireland: Galway Racecourse – official course information
- Galway Racecourse official website – fixtures, tickets and race-day travel
- Horse Racing Ireland – the governing authority for the racing industry in Ireland, with fixtures and course information
- GamblingCare.ie – free, confidential gambling support in Ireland
18+. Please play responsibly, gamblingcare.ie. This guide is independent editorial opinion; it is not a guarantee, endorsement or financial advice, and does not imply any affiliate or commercial relationship with any operator named.
Last updated 27 October 2026. Written and checked by the Punter Ireland editorial team. Offers, odds and rules change, so always check the operator’s own terms and the official sources above.
