5 horses confirmed dead following Galway Races festival
Five horses have now been confirmed DEAD following the week-long Galway Races festival.
Two horses were killed on Day 1 of the festival (27 July 2026) - Horse Racing Ireland confirmed the deaths of 4-year-old horses Munsif and Carmel’s Phoenix who both suffered falls in the “Galmont Hotel & The Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle” race.
Three other horses are now known to be dead. They were used in races on Day 6 (1 August 2026).
Horse Racing Ireland has identified the horses as:
6-year-old Dani Donadoni who suffered a fall in the "Boyle Sports Handicap Hurdle" race
and 2 horses used in the "Electric Galway Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race":
5-year-old Glens Sonata who was pulled up injured
5-year-old Whizz Bizz who weakened quickly and was pulled up
Race sponsor “Electric Galway” is a Galway night club. In an Instagram post the day after the race, it made no mention of Glens Sonata or Whizz Bizz. The company only had this to say: “What a day yesterday was at the Galway Races! Seeing the Electric Galway Mares Flat Race take centre stage was a real milestone for us and one we'll never forget. To be part of such an amazing event, and to proudly partner with the Galway Races as the biggest afterparty of the Galway Races this year, has been an incredible experience from start to finish.”
It went on to say that “race week has been filled with unforgettable moments” https://www.instagram.com/p/DbjIUYwDT2E/
In an appeal to Electric Galway to stop sponsoring horse racing, we urged them not to forget all the horses who suffer and die.
On Day 3 of the Galway Races festival (29 July):
• Horse Tom Mac "felt lame" and was pulled up.
• Senecia "was scoped post race and was found to have burst a blood vessel".
• Jockey D.L. Queally, rider of Mighty Berkshire, was suspended for 2 days after he "accepted he had used his whip excessively" in the closing stages of a race
• Jockey J.M. Sheridan, rider of Minella Rockett, was suspended for eight racedays (it was his third offence)
Both jockeys were found to be in breach of Regulation 10.3(g)(frequency) which states: "The use of the whip in the following circumstances is prohibited...The hitting of a Horse with excessive frequency. When determining whether or not the whip was used with excessive frequency the Raceday Stewards shall take into account if the Rider appeared to have hit their mount with the whip NINE TIMES OR MORE during a race when their whip-hand had left the reins".
On the final day of the festival (2 August):
Bannow Blaze “had blood at the nostrils post race”
Jockeys E Staples and LF Roche “tested positive for alcohol” following pre-race tests. The raceday stewards “stood the riders down for the day”
A jockey was suspended for two race days after he was found to have breached Regulation 10.3(b) - this states that the use of a whip is prohibited when a horse’s “chance of winning or being placed is clearly gone”. When interviewed by race stewards about his use of the whip in the latter stages of the “Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle” race, jockey DJ O'Connor, rider of 6-year-old Party President, “stated the horse was a LAZY TYPE but accepted he was in breach of the regulation”.
ACTION ALERT
Urge Electric Galway, Guinness, the Galmont Hotel and The Galway Bay Hotel to stop sponsoring horse racing.
Electric Galway
36 Upper Abbeygate Street, Galway, H91 CV48
Email: party@electricgalway.com; penny@electricgalway.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electricgalway/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElectricGalway
The Galmont Hotel
Lough Atalia Road, Galway H91 CYN3
Tel: 091 538 300
Email: reservations@thegalmont.com
Guinness Ireland
Email: customer.service@diageo.com; Consumerinfo.ireland@diageo.com
The Galway Bay Hotel
The Promenade,
Galway, H91 W295
Tel: 091 514 645
Email: info@galwaybayhotel.com
Don’t bet on horse racing or attend horse racing events.
Since 2001, the Irish Government has granted €1.54 Billion of public funds to horse racing. Contact the Taoiseach and Tanaiste and demand an end to state funding to this gambling activity which causes so much suffering and death. Tell them to redirect the funds to the many deserving charities, health/homeless/environmental groups, sports clubs, animal rescue centres, etc crying out for support.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Tanaiste Simon Harris TD
Telephone: 01 281 3727
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Watch “RTE Investigates: Horses – Making a Killing”
https://youtu.be/ymm0xh3gp7o
Watch the BBC Panorama documentary “The Dark Side of Horse Racing”
https://youtu.be/F1TZnZgV8L4
Please support our campaign with a donation
https://www.paypal.me/banbloodsports
#YouBetTheyDie #RejectRacing