Chanelle Pharma renews Galway Races sponsorship for 2026 festival

Chanelle Pharma has renewed its partnership with the Galway Races Summer Festival for 2026, extending its sponsorship of the Leading Trainer Award and the Best Turned Out Series. The agreement continues one of Irish racing's longest-running commercial partnerships while reinforcing the company's association with the equine sector.

Writing by the Galway Advertiser said that Chanelle Pharma's sponsorship of the Leading Trainer Award has now reached its 41st consecutive year, while the Best Turned Out Series enters its second year under the company's backing. The pharmaceutical manufacturer said the partnership reflects its longstanding relationship with the horse industry and its roots in the west of Ireland.

Founded in Loughrea, County Galway, Chanelle Pharma operates in more than 90 countries across human and animal health. The company said the sponsorship aligns with its veterinary business, which supports equine health in Ireland and international markets.

Angelo Gatto, chief executive at Chanelle Pharma, said: “The Galway Races hold a very special place for all of us at Chanelle. Forty-one years of sponsoring the Leading Trainer Award is not simply a number, it is a reflection of who we are as a company. We were built in Galway, we have grown with this region, and we believe in celebrating Irish excellence on a platform that the world watches. The horse industry is central to rural Ireland and central to what we do as a business.”

He added: “Renewing this partnership, and deepening it through the Best Turned Out Series, feels entirely natural to us. We are proud sponsors, proud Galwegians, and proud of what this festival represents.”

The Galway Races Summer Festival attracts more than 130,000 attendees during race week and generates significant economic activity for the region, providing sponsors with extensive audience visibility.

Michael Moloney, chief executive of Galway Racecourse, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Chanelle Pharma back as a partner for 2026. The Leading Trainer Award is one of the most prestigious individual honours of the festival week, and having a sponsor of Chanelle’s standing and heritage behind it speaks to the quality we strive to deliver across every aspect of the Galway Races.”