The track's 'dip' took on a whole new meaning yesterday as punters swam for cover, writes
FRANK McNALLYat the Galway Race Festival, Ballybrit
IT WASN'T quite a "perfect storm", to borrow the economics cliche du jour. But the first Galway Festival of the recession was getting weather to match the national mood last night.
Dark clouds rolled over the track just in time for the opening race of day two, which was run in what could optimistically have been termed a summer shower. The Atlantic depression subsequently deepened. And by the time the horses appeared for the second race, the doom-laden sky was dumping rain of monsoon proportions on Ballybrit.
The parade ring was soon deserted, except for the unfortunate handlers who had to be there. The betting ring was forsaken by all but the bookmakers, who stood bravely by their satchels (having bigger umbrellas than anyone else). But they might as well have abandoned their pitches for all the business they were doing.
While the deluge lasted, the far side of the track was barely visible, even from the gleaming glass panoramic suite of the Killanin Stand, where Irish soccer manager Giovanni Trapattoni and his assistant Marco Tardelli were getting their first close-ups of summertime in Ireland. Trapattoni had arrived earlier wearing sunglasses.
One of the best-know features of the Ballybrit course is a hollow on the back straight known as "the dip". This seems rather topical this year.
There was particular interest in how a horse called Sorry Al - part-owned by former taoiseach Albert Reynolds - would deal with the dip. It was still more or less in contention going down the back in the second race.
But he didn't come out of the dip especially well and finished nowhere behind the winner, Reisk Superman, ridden by a mud-spattered Ruby Walsh.
The Patrician Brass Band were occupying their usual spot at the festival: a sheltered one under the awning of the owners' and trainers' pavilion. Even so, and enthusiastically as they played such race-week favourites as Ticket to Ride, they looked like musicians on the deck of the Titanic.
Nearer My God to Theewouldn't have been out of place on the song list.
Bertie Ahern was dry (and high), meanwhile, enjoying a family get-together in another of the Killanin's glass boxes, with his daughter Cecelia and guests, including Ronan Keating. With the timing that has served him so well lately, he emerged for a short walkabout in the company of the Boyzone singer during one of the brief interludes when it wasn't raining. Then, before you could say "Recession? What recession?", he was back under cover.
Perhaps out of sensitivity to Brian Cowen, the former taoiseach at least stopped short of wearing shades, unlike some people. But no doubt Trapattoni had a good excuse.
Maybe the future of Irish soccer is so bright he needs to protect himself from the glare. Or having completed the pilgrimage of Croagh Patrick at the weekend, maybe he was expecting a meteorological miracles.
They didn't happen; and it was a good thing that Signor Trapattoni had an indoor engagement for the evening. He was there as guest of honour at the Galway United football club corporate dinner. And welcoming him to the track was a man who knows a thing or do about surviving downturns: the club's chief executive Nick Leeson, formerly of Barings Bank.
The rain did stop eventually, or at least was reduced to a drizzle. But the nearest thing to sunshine during the evening was when the 19 members of the Ballyboggan Syndicate, from Clonard (it's near Edenderry), won the Tote Jackpot Handicap with their horse My Valley.
It was their second consecutive win in the race, and the fourth time My Valley has won at Galway, bring her earnings to €80,000. Not bad for a horse bought for €19,000 - €1,000 per member - by a group of friends from the Abbey Inn in Clonard.
Syndicate organisers Gareth and Helena Ennis also topped up their winnings with a bet at a handsome 12/1.
So the celebrations were understandably noisy. But as befits the first recessionary festival, there was also a modest note to the celebrations.
Asked if they would be hosting a party back in Clonard last night, Gareth said: "We might book into a hotel now."