Bryan Cooper, the renowned jockey and former Gold Cup winner, has expressed that jockeys find the experience of riding at Galway to be more enjoyable than anywhere else in the world.
The Galway Races, scheduled from Monday, July 31 to Sunday, August 6, 2023, will feature some of Ireland's best-known horse-racing stars. Despite other notable events like Ascot, Aintree, and Cheltenham featuring throughout the year, Cooper believes that the Galway Races, though considered ordinary by some, stand out due to the electrifying atmosphere created by the vibrant crowd, elevating victory to a whole new level.
"Galway is a great place to ride a winner; it might be an ordinary race, but you get a great buzz out of it because of the atmosphere from the crowd, so it means a little more than other winners," said Cooper speaking about Galway festival odds
The 30-year-old further emphasised that securing a win at Galway can have a profound impact on a jockey's confidence. The boost in self-assurance can be transformative for riders, propelling them into a successful season ahead.
"Having a winner does boost your confidence, and it's a great place for conditional or apprentice jockeys to have a winner that could kickstart them for the season, and they might be a name worth following as they attract attention from bigger trainers and the opportunities that follow," he added.
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Reflecting on his own journey, Cooper revealed that he missed the Galway Races for four consecutive years due to injuries. However, this allowed him to witness the event from a different perspective, gaining a deeper appreciation for its significance.
"I missed it for four years in a row through injury, so I've been able to see both sides of it when I go down and enjoy myself. People that have no interest in racing always go to Galway.
The Kerry native also highlighted that the track's challenging nature adds to the excitement of the event.
"It's very competitive, and Galway is a tricky track to ride, so no race is easy - it can also get very tactical when the ground is quick.
"The jockeys do enjoy things a little more and might go out for dinner together, whereas you might not do that at Cheltenham or Leopardstown because it's a bigger event. We may stay down later in the week and have dinner and drinks afterward as well."
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