It was sticking out a mile. The winner had run well over the course this time last year.
First race of the seven days of action at Ballybrit and a winner would leave the coffers in a suitably healthy state ahead of the more tricky cards later on.
There was real hope to be gleaned from the formbook. Five times she had filled the so-called ‘bridesmaid’ role and was primed to step up, despite 30 runners lining up at the start.
It was a bit surprising, though, that there was no official announcement of a change in the colours as the eventual winner carried a darker version of the whiter shade s of pale of the others milling at the starting line. Champagne is what the fashionistas called her colours.
Either way, it was waiting on ice for Michelle Cawley as she broke the winning tape ahead of a posse of other brides in front of the early arrivals at the Galway races yesterday evening.
A fundraiser for the Special Olympics movement, the Brides Race over one furlong drew a strong field.
“Bridesmaids have to have a chance too”, Michelle insisted. “I’ve been a bridesmaid at least five times, so I suppose it’s my turn now to upstage the brides.”
Apart from meeting the entry requirement to raise €175 for the Special Olympics, Michelle (32) from Ballisodare in Co Sligo also works for the organisation.
Also celebrating yesterday was trainer Dermot Weld, who won the first horse race of the week, courtesy of the Ruby Walsh-ridden Diplomat. Weld has set so many records around Ballybrit that another winner might seem like small cheese. But not yesterday, as the man the punters call the Master of Ballybrit, was celebrating his 65th birthday.
Laurent Perrier
He could be forgiven for heading to the champagne tent where the cheapest bottle of non-vintage Laurent Perrier was €95. The big winners were no doubt choosing the pricier Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle at €220 a pop.
The requirements of the 22 members of staff at Geoghegan’s nightclub in Tuam were more modest. Owner Martin Geoghegan had brought the staff on a night out to Ballybrit last year and they all had such a good time that they were back for more—but heading to the bar for beer.
“We travelled in the bus and we’re heading out on the town afterwards”, he said as he disappeared into the huge first-evening crowd.
Among the racegoers were Leinster rugby players Fergus McFadden and Seán Cronin, who joined Connacht colleagues, Brett Wilkinson and Andrew Browne for the official start of Race Week 2013.
