To borrow an election slogan, it's always people before politics at the Galway Races, writes Frank McNally in Galway.
The Fianna Fáil tent - probably the most famous piece of canvas in Ireland after Caravaggio's The Taking of Christ - lies idle on the festival Monday before the four-day corporate dining extravaganza begins today. The opening night at Ballybrit is for the common man.
Not that this would be an accurate description of the young lad from Co Galway, who at 7 p.m. was the most successful punter on the course.
He has been attending the festival "for years", and claimed to have backed each of the first three winners on the Tote for a net profit of €60. Pressed for details of his system, he said only: "I ask around."
But success at Galway is rarely that casual, and on cross-examination, the young veteran admitted industry connections. "My best friend's father owns a hape of horses."
More typical of the Monday race crowd, and only slightly less successful, were twentysomethings Edel Fehily, from Roscommon, and flatmate Marian Lyons, from Kerry, who had each landed two gambles.
The plan for the rest of the evening, they said laughing, was "to head into town and blow it all in the pub". Then Edel added, still laughing, but nervously: "Don't write that - my mother reads the newspapers!"
For some racegoers there was more at stake than mere money or maternal disapproval. Carmel Burns, from Athenry, Co Galway, confessed to a string of losers during the evening but, patting the shoulder of her fiancé, Pat McDonagh, from Loughrea, quipped: "I hope I haven't backed another one here." It emerged that Carmel and Pat are getting married on Friday.
The opening-night crowd appeared to include an inordinate number of young Munster rugby supporters in replica team T-shirts. On closer inspection, it turned out that they were the Munster rugby team, taking a break from a training camp in the famous Munster stronghold of Castlebar.
The exercise combined "a bit of training" and "a bit of bonding", according to hooker Frankie Sheahan. The races presumably came under the second category, although the crowds at Galway are more intimidating than a New Zealand defence.
This is the first smoke-free festival (not entirely - an elderly punter furtively dragging on a Sweet Afton during a show in the Guinness marquee was outed by MC Hector Ó hEochagáin with the question: "Is your name Fibber Magee?"), so some things about Galway were even clearer than before.
One truth was illustrated by the Patrician Brass Band, which treated racegoers to the theme from Mission Impossible: an apt commentary - despite the success stories - on the task of picking winners here.
But the basic rule is, if you have no other good reason for backing a horse, choose one trained by Dermot Weld.
The festival specialist lived up to his legend by taking the very first race last night at the generous odds - given his reputation - of 5/1.
Among the punters who didn't benefit was John O'Donoghue, the Minister for Arts, Sport, and Tourism, and the advance guard for the Fianna Fáil invasion, which begins today.
On the plus side, Mr O'Donoghue is tipped to do well in September's Cabinet Reshuffle Handicap Hurdle, especially in the shock absence of Charlie McCreevy (non-runner).
The impending shake-up of portfolios will add to the usual interest in Galway as Ministers and hopeful backbenchers take to the parade ring later this week.
Race reports: pages 24 and 25