On an eventful day in Galway, the palate of bright – occasionally overpowering – hues dominated the scene, making it practically inevitable that ‘Pink in the Park’, the pre-eminent horse trained by Willie Mullins, would claim the inaugural race at the Ballybrit Racecourse.
In a surprising turn of events, Kimberly Mushayabasa didn’t perceive herself as the front-runner for the Ladies Day coveted prize and accompanying cash reward. However, adorned in a palette of blues, greens, yellows, complemented by a homemade crystal handbag, the lady from Kells seemed “subtly confident”. A dash of worry nettled her; after all, as she observed, “these ladies have been readying themselves for months, while I compiled my attire merely over a few days.”
The apparel of Yvonne O’Toole hailing from Birr, Co Offaly, however, had a more meticulous backstory. Her dress, seemingly touched by the vibrant ink of an orange marker, had been in her possession for seven years, originally bought for a wedding. Observing the parade ring, she chanced upon another lady sporting vibrant green trouser, reminiscent of an Irish flag, a humorous prospect if paired with some third woman in white.
In the end, it wasn’t O’Toole or Mushayabasa, but the stylish Davinia Knight from Portarlington, who clinched the best-dressed title, with an effortlessly chic black outfit and a handsome cash reward of 10 grand.
In the backdrop, the frantic Lorraine McCallister was caught up in the hat selling frenzy, catering to the hasty needs of ladies who had come to Ballybrit without the essential adornment, earnestly browsing through her hat stall.
In her emphatic declaration, she flagged the flip flops as the next big thing, gesturing towards a collection of monochrome footwear that could easily impress a top-tier RTÉ official. Her intentions were to sell each pair for €15. She was optimistic about their imminent booming popularity.
The scene was set at Ballybrit where the Galway race winner added a ‘Brit’ touch as flip-flops were predicted to be the next significant fashion statement.
Whilst discussing her plans, an unexpected flurry of activity erupted beneath the primary spectator stand. It was stirred up by an assembly of 17 Rose of Tralee attendees, organised by Galway Rose Deirdre Jennings. The social worker could barely contain her elation. Anticipating the end of the month with vigour, she found this to be an enchanting initial experience, filled with warm encounters and excitement.
Sarah Brotherwood found herself in Galway on hen party duties. However, she seized the opportunity to visit the turf where her horse, Oathkeeper, once trod. The horse, a former possession of JP McManus, was acquired by her amidst the Covid outbreak after his retirement from the high stakes, trading the Irish racetracks for life on a Herefordshire dairy farm. “Adjusting took time,” she admitted, “due to the unfamiliar surroundings. He displays poise here, but he was thoroughly confounded when faced with a gathering of sheep.”
Living up to his name, Oathkeeper indeed.
Feeling triumphant after betting on two winners in the initial three races, Brotherwood had additional recommendations for the remainder of the day. She discreetly mentioned Kings Hill for the Guinness Galway Hurdle and affirmed when queried about staking high.
In the ensuing races, Nurburgring, taken around the track by jockey JJ Slevin under trainer Joseph O’Brien, confidently crossed the finish line. In contrast, Kings Hill trailed, leaving this writer’s financial state a tad worse and regretting trusting in the judgement of strangers.