The Galway Hurdle is a National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Galway over a distance of about 2 miles (2 miles and 11 yards, or 3,229 metres), and during its running there are nine hurdles 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 1913, and the inaugural running was won by Red Damsel. For the first six years it was contested over 1½ miles. The race is now sponsored by Guinness.
Records Most successful horse since 1988 (2 wins): Tudor City (2019, 2022)
Leading jockey since 1988 (3 wins): Patrick Mullins - Sharjah (2018), Aramon (2020), Saldier (2021)
Leading trainer since 1988 (6 wins): Willie Mullins – Mystical City (1996), Clondaw Warrior (2016), Sharjah (2018), Aramon (2020), Saldier (2021), Zarak The Brave (2023)
Winners since 1988 Weights given in stones and pounds Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer 1988 Try a Brandy 6 09-07 Harry Rogers Marty Dunne 1989 I'm Confident 5 09-07 Fran Flood M. McDonagh 1990 Athy Spirit 5 10–11 Tom Taaffe Willie Fennin 1991 Sagaman 5 10–12 Philip Fenton L. J. Codd 1992 Natalies Fancy 6 10-03 Jason Titley Pat Kelly 1993 Camden Buzz 5 10–12 Charlie Swan Paddy Mullins 1994 Oh So Grumpy 6 10-09 Mark Dwyer Jessica Harrington 1995 No Tag 7 10–11 Jason Titley Pat Kelly 1996 Mystical City 6 10-01 David Casey Willie Mullins 1997 Toast the Spreece 5 10-09 Tony McCoy Aidan O'Brien 1998 Black Queen 7 10-02 Shay Barry John Kiely 1999 Quinze 6 11–12 Richard Dunwoody Pat Hughes 2000 Perugino Diamond 4 09-08 Jim Culloty Seamus O'Farrell 2001 Ansar 5 09-09 Paul Carberry Dermot Weld 2002 Say Again 6 10-07 John Cullen Paul Nolan 2003 Sabadilla 9 09-07 Pat Verling Pat Verling 2004 Cloone River 8 10-07 John Cullen Paul Nolan 2005 More Rainbows 5 09-10 Niall Madden Noel Meade 2006 Cuan Na Grai 5 10-09 Paddy Flood Paul Nolan 2007 Farmer Brown 6 10–11 Davy Russell Pat Hughes 2008 Indian Pace 7 09-10 Paul Townend John Kiely 2009 Bahrain Storm 6 10–12 Stephen Gray Pat Flynn 2010 Overturn 6 11-06 Graham Lee Donald McCain Jr 2011 Moon Dice 6 10-04 Tom Doyle Paul Flynn2012Rebel Fitz711-05Davy RussellMichael Winters2013Missunited610-08Robbie PowerMichael Winters 2014 Thomas Edison 7 10-06 Tony McCoy Tony Martin 2015 Quick Jack 6 10-04 Denis O'Regan Tony Martin 2016 Clondaw Warrior 9 11-05 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2017 Tigris River 6 10-09 Barry Geraghty Joseph O'Brien 2018 Sharjah 5 11-07 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2019 Tudor City 7 11-00 Robbie Power Tony Martin 2020 Aramon 7 11-10 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2021 Saldier 7 11-10 Patrick Mullins Willie Mullins 2022 Tudor City 10 10-11 Liam McKenna Tony Martin 2023 Zarak The Brave 4 11-05 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2024 Nurburgring 4 10-10 JJ Slevin Joseph O'Brien 2025 Nadaawi 5 11-07 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott 2026 Putapoundinthejar 6 10-02 Daniel King Tony Martin
Earlier winners
1913 – Red Damsel 1950 – Lady's Find 1951 – Wye Fly 1952 – Warrenscourt Lad 1953 – Prince of Devon 1954 – Cloudless Days 1955 – Antigue II 1956 – Ivy Green 1957 – Tymon Castle 1958 – Knight Errant 1959 – Cashel View 1960 – Commutering 1961 – Cynge Noir / Newgrove * 1962 – Tripacer 1963 – Snow Trix 1964 – Extra Stout 1965 – Ticonderoga 1966 – Warkey 1967 – Muir 1968 – Annalong 1969 – Bonne 1970 – Dictora 1971 – Highway View 1972 – Hardboy 1973 – Lesabelle 1974 – Just for Fun 1975 – Double Default / Spanner * 1976 – Negrada 1977 – Paddy Bouler 1978 – Prince Tammy 1979 – Hard Tarquin 1980 – Pearlstone 1981 – Double Wrapped 1982 – Pinch Hitter 1983 – Pinch Hitter 1984 – Tara Lee 1985 – Strathline 1986 – Rushmoor 1987 – Belsir
* The 1961 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.* There were two winners in 1975 as the race was split into separate divisions.
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". timesonline.co.uk – "Glorious Galway" (2006).