'Interest is off the scale' - Galway chief optimistic for daily crowds of 5,000

Galway manager Michael Moloney remains optimistic that 5,000 people will be able to attend each day of this month's festival, but he stressed a government decision by this weekend is crucial given the seven-day meeting is now only 19 days away.

Twenty-four hours after British prime minister Boris Johnson announced Goodwood can pack their enclosures with a capacity crowd at the Glorious meeting, Moloney is still awaiting government approval. He said: "We're still waiting on a government decision and the timing of that decision is extremely important.

"We're just two and a half weeks out from the start of the festival so we really need a decision by the end of the week. We're already coming under pressure in terms of suppliers so the sooner the decision is made the better.

"Every meeting we've had has been very positive so there are certainly reasons to be optimistic. We worked closely with HRI to ensure we had a plan with strong protocols in which the festival can be conducted in a safe outdoor environment. We couldn't possibly have done anymore than we did.

"Our event is entirely outdoors so the decision to postpone the reintroduction of indoor dining in Ireland has no impact on us. There are numerous sporting events due to take place in the coming weeks so if they are letting 8,000 into Croke Park I can't see any reason why we can't have 5,000 every day at Galway."

He added: "It's not about the financials, it's about getting people back to the track. It will cost us to bring 5,000 people here each day but it is something we're willing to take on the chin. This year is not about the financials, we need to get the racing industry back up and running in terms of attendances. We have to get people back into the habit of going racing again."

Michael Moloney: 'People want to come racing'Credit: Ray Ryan

Since news broke that the course was hoping to welcome 5,000 paying customers a day for its big week, interest has been "off the scale" according to Moloney.

He said: "We have a great product and the enthusiasm is certainly there. There is always interest from people throughout the year but the phone hasn't stop ringing in here all day every day since last week. It's incredible. It's off the scale. People want to come racing and hopefully we can ensure they can."

Reflecting on last year's behind closed doors festival, Moloney said: "We were obviously very fortunate to be racing at all when other things weren't happening and it would be far more demoralising if we didn't have people here this year.

"If we did get the go-ahead for 5,000 people a day, that's 35,000 people for the week and I would be hopeful that those who want to come racing will get a chance to do that."

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