Galway Plate

Steeplechase horse race in Ireland

Horse race

Galway PlateClass| Grade A

|

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
Galway Plate  2025

|  |
Western Fold  | Jesse Evans  | Shecouldbeanything
Previous years

2024
|  |
Pinkerton  | Duffle Coat  | Zanahiyr
2023
|  |
Ash Tree Meadow  | Authorized Art  | Hollow Games
2022
|  |
Hewick  | Darasso  | El Barra
2021
|  |
Royal Rendezvous  | Easy Game  | Modus
2020-2011

2020
|  |
Early Doors  | Royal Rendezvous  | Cabaret Queen
2019
|  |
Borice  | Black Corton  | Snugsborough Benny
2018
|  |
Clarcam  | Patricks Park  | Jury Duty
2017
|  |
Balko Des Flos  | Shaneshill  | Slowmotion
2016
|  |
Lord Scoundrel  | Alelchi Inois  | Ballycasey
2015
|  |
Shanahan's Turn  | The Paparrazi Kid  | Sadler's Risk
2014
|  |
Road To Riches  | Burn And Turn  | Balnaslow
2013
|  |
Carlingford Lough  | Quantitativeeasing | Jacksonslady
2012
|  |
Bob Lingo  | Casey Top  | Blackstairmountain
2011
|  |
Blazing Tempo  | Wise Old Owl  | Aigle D'or
2010-2001

2010
|  |
Finger Onthe Pulse  | Themoonandsixpence | Majestic Concorde
2009
|  |
Ballyholland  | Knock On The Head  | Washington Lad
2008
|  |
Oslot  | Oodachee  | Ansar
2007
|  |
Sir Frederick  | Ballyagran  | Cool Running
2006
|  |
Far From Trouble  | Ansar  | Dix Villez
2005
|  |
Ansar  | Ursumman  | Light On The Broom
2004
|  |
Ansar  | Risk Accessor  | Manjoe
2003
|  |
Nearly A Moose  | Kadoun  | Glynn Dingle
2002
|  |
Rockholm Boy  | Wotsitooya  | Ridgewood Water
2001
|  |
Grimes  | Quinze  | Dovaly
2000-1992

2000
|  |
Dovaly  | Monty's Pass  | Palette
1999
|  |
Moscow Express  | Lucky Town  | Nicholls Cross
1998
|  |
Amlah  | Lucky Town  | Corket
1997
|  |
Stroll Home  | Idiots Venture  | Derrymoyle
1996
|  |
Life Of A Lord  | Bishops Hall  | King Wah Glory
1995
|  |
Life Of A Lord  | Kelly's Pearl  | Loshian
1994
|  |
Feathered Gale  | Minister For Fun  | Mubadir
1993
|  |
General Idea  | Harristown Lady  | Galevilla Express
1992
|  |
The Gooser  | Baptismal Fire  | Four Trix

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.

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

[edit]

Most 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)
* Danny Gilligan -  Ash Tree Meadow (2023), Western Fold (2025)

Leading trainer since 1988 (5 wins):

* Gordon Elliott \-  Lord Scoundrel (2016), Clarcam (2018), Borice (2019), Ash Tree Meadow (2023), Western Fold (2025)

## Winners since 1988

[edit]

* Weights given in stones and pounds.

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
2025  | Western Fold  | 6  | 11-10  | Danny Gilligan  | Gordon Elliott

## 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

[edit]

* Horse racing in Ireland
* List of Irish National Hunt races

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "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:
* 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
* 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
* 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
* 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
* carlow-nationalist.ie – "All set for another Ballybrit Bonanza" (2006).
* galway-races.net Archived 3 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine – "History of the Galway Festival".
* tbheritage.com – "Galway Plate – Search Results".
* timesonline.co.uk[dead link] – "Glorious Galway" (2006).