Galway races: The ordinary people dedicated to making their sport extraordinary

As excitement builds for the 51st Guinness sponsored Galway Races Festival, which kicks off this Monday - the passion, tireless dedication and work that is undertaken by the teams of people involved in the horse racing industry is often overlooked.

Ahead of this year’s event though the significant role of the unsung heroes of the horse racing community has been recognised. The role that they play in making their sport, extraordinary.

Shot in the Athenry horse training yard of Galway trainer Val O’Brien, Guinness’ latest short film captures the bond between horse and human. From the stable jockeys who go on daily dawn rides on the gallops, to those who care for the horses in the stable yard, to the specialist horse farrier who tends to the horses’ hooves and shoes.

‘Behind Every Great Horse’ provides an insight into the industry - from daily life on a horse training yard to the preparation that goes into a major race meeting by racecourse staff.

O’Brien says that he is proud to represent the hard, unseen work that is being undertaken nationwide -

“We are proud to feature in the film as a yard that is representative of the many stables and yards throughout Ireland that have the same goal as ourselves, which is to bring out the potential in every horse.”