Galway Admission Charges 2009

Brian Graham - Galway Races

Brian Graham and Brian Gleeson call for a reduction in racecourse admission charges.

In an interview at the Curragh, on Sunday 12 July, with RTE's Brian Gleeson, bookmaker Brian Graham called for a reduction in admission charges to Irish racecourses.

Brian Gleeson: " The Galway Festival is a meeting we all look forward to. But this year it'll be a litmus test in terms of the economy and what way its going to shape out. "

Brian Graham: " I think it will from what we've seen here on the track. We've seen it at Fairyhouse and at Punchestown; and we've even seen it here (at the Curragh) over Derby Weekend that people just don't have the money anymore.

I think the admission charges - and what we've seen quite a bit about that ... They will have to come down, in fairness.

20 euros and 25 euros to the ordinary man on the street this time 18 months ago wasn't a lot of money But every penny counts now.

We need people to come racing again to stimulate everything - to keep the bars going, to keep the Tote going and every thing else. And the only way to get them (racegoers) in the gate is to reduce the admission charges.

I'd be all for that."

Brian Gleeson: "And so would I. And so say all of us."