RTÉ coverage of the 2007 Galway Racing Festival will mark 70 years of broadcasting from Ballybrit by the national broadcaster.
RTÉ Radio, known as Radio Éireann at the time, broadcast its first live commentary from the Galway Races in 1937 and the festival has been an annual feature in the station’s summer schedule since then.
This year is RTÉ Television’s 45th year reporting on the biggest racing festival in Ireland and it will broadcast its most extensive coverage ever of the festival with seven days of live television programming from Ballybrit.
Over 30 races will be shown live across RTÉ One and RTÉ Two throughout the week, including the featured races each day. RTÉ’s expert racing team of Robert Hall, Ted Walsh, Tracy Piggott and Brian Gleeson will be ringside to preview and review all of the day’s events, giving their expert opinions and tips.
Tony O’Hehir will also be on hand with his unrivalled commentary capturing all the action.
Also this year, viewers will get the a chance to experience the full flavour of the Galway Racing Festival with RTÉ’s Grainne Seoige taking a look at the renowned social side of the event, bringing viewers the atmosphere and excitement each day.
On RTÉ Radio 1 The Mooney Show will have previews of the big races and the betting with Páraic Lodge and there will be live commentary on the William Hill Galway Plate on Wednesday, 1 August at 3.40pm and live commentary on the Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap at 3.40pm on Thursday 2 August.
RTÉ Radio 1 sports’ bulletins and sports’ programme Drivetime Sport will have regular updates on all the action at Ballybrit and reporter Peadar Flanagan will be on the ground with reports and interviews with top jockeys, trainers, bookies and punters.
All week RTÉ Radio 1’s Drivetime with Mary Wilson will be reporting on issues of the day in Galway city and county with updates on the water situation and a special broadcast from the Galway city centre studios on Wednesday, 1 August.
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta has been broadcasting live from the Galway Races for the past sixteen years. The Meitheal Rásaíochta will, as usual, broadcast from An Ródaí (roadcaster) at Ballybrit Race course with expert analysis on the week’s racing.
Mártan Ó Ciardha advises on the best odds and roving reporters will be out and about in the crowd, capturing the buzz, excitement and glamour of the occasion.
RTÉ.ie will provide comprehensive coverage of the Summer Festival from Ballybrit that will include a detailed preview and review of all the action for each of the seven days and a full results service.
RTÉ Racing presenter Robert Hall will cast his eye over the fields for the featured William Hill Galway Plate and Guinness Galway Hurdle – while also pointing readers in the direction of the likely winners.
The ‘Galway Spy’ will be found deep in the betting ring at Ballybrit and will report back to RTÉ.ie on where the money is going. For value bets – it is best to keep in with the Spy.
All televised races on RTÉ will be streamed live (Island of Ireland only) on www.rte.ie/live on each of the seven days. Daily racing tips to mobile phones are available courtesy of the RTÉ SMS alerts.
RTÉ AT THE GALWAY RACES – COVERAGE DETAILS
RTÉ TELEVISION
Live racing from The Galway Racing Festival each day as follows:
Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 4.55pm on RTÉ Two
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2.20pm on RTÉ One
RTÉ RADIO
RTÉ Radio 1, regular sports’ bulletins throughout the week and on The Mooney Show, Wednesday & Thursday, 1 and 2 August at 3.40pm and
RTÉ RAIDIÓ NA GAELTACHTA, Wednesday & Thursday, 1 and 2 August at 2pm. Friday, 3 August, at 5.30pm.
RTÉ.ie
Comprehensive coverage including detailed previews and review of all the action for each of the seven days and a full results service.
All televised races on RTÉ will be streamed live (Island of Ireland only) on www.rte.ie/live on each of the seven days.
Daily racing tips to mobile phones are available courtesy of the RTÉ SMS alerts.
Selected highlights from each day will be available on demand.
Daily images, comprising of action, both on and off the track will be found in the ‘GALLERY’ section on www.rte.ie/racing
RTÉ AERTEL
Users of RTÉ Aertel will be able to check all the latest results from the meeting on page 251, while page 255 will contain the overnight declarations.
