Tote Renews Backing of Galway Plate

One of the most prestigious events on the Irish horse racing calendar has secured its immediate future with the news that the Tote has renewed its headline sponsorship of the Galway Plate. The deal between the two parties has been in force for some time now and the latest extension, which takes the contract up to 2020, means that the Tote will have been the main backers for eleven years with the potential for that to develop further.

That’s a healthy contribution to Irish Horse Racing and naturally the news has been welcomed on all sides.

High Point

In announcing the deal, Tote Chief Executive Tim Higgins said:

TheTote.com Galway Plate is a real high point of the year for all of our team and the week itself is eagerly anticipated every summer..

The continued high quality of horse entering and winning the race is great to see and we look forward to seeing what the 2018 winner goes on to achieve.

In reply, Michael Moloney, General Manager of Galway Racecourse, stated:

As an integral part of Irish racing, the Tote are a natural partner for us to work with and we are delighted to continue this agreement.

The Galway Plate is one of the longest running races ran anywhere in Ireland and we recognise the significance of having TheTote.com as title sponsor given their near 90-year association with Irish racing.

Historic

The Galway Plate has a long and rich history having first been run way back in 1869. In the modern day, this is a handicap race for horses aged four years and over and it is run over two miles, six furlongs and 110 yards of the Galway Track.

Along the way, there are 14 jumps to be negotiated and this is therefore one of the biggest tests of endurance for horse and rider on the Irish circuit. It’s a moveable event, usually held either in late July or early August and is also a big social occasion for the race-going fraternity.

Over the many years of competition, we’ve seen some notable winners among horses, jockeys and trainers. In 2017, Balko Des Flos, ridden by Davy Russell, came first past the post to give trainer Henry De Bromhead his second success in three years.

Financial Boost

The overall prize fund for the Galway Plate is down at 250,000 Euros and we may expect to see that increase over the course of this contract extension. There is no confirmed financial news at present but that is already a significant sum of money and it’s vital for a major sponsor to be involved in order to maintain interest in the Galway Plate.

It’s one of the most prestigious races on the jumping calendar but in order for this race to keep up its level of success, it needs the best horses not just from Ireland but from a wider network. The impressive level of prize money will help in that aim so the extended contract between the Tote and the Galway Plate provides good news for all involved.