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 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 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 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 1998Amlah 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 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 2026 King Alexander 8 10-13 Daniel King Willie Mullins
Earlier winners
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 Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , carlow-nationalist.ie – "All set for another Ballybrit Bonanza" (2006). galway-races.net – "History of the Galway Festival". – "Galway Plate – Search Results". timesonline.co.uk – "Glorious Galway" (2006).