Chanelle Pharma, a global pharmaceutical leader in human and animal health, is proud to confirm its continued partnership with the Galway Races Summer Festival 2026, reaffirming two landmark sponsorships: the Leading Trainer Award, now in its 41st consecutive year under Chanelle’s support, and the Best Turned Out Series, entering its second year as a flagship celebration of equine presentation and stable excellence.
The partnership is one of the longest-running in Irish racing sponsorship, a testament to the deep, enduring connection between Chanelle Pharma and the horse industry — both as a world-class manufacturer of veterinary pharmaceuticals and as a business proudly rooted in the west of Ireland.
A Partnership Built on Shared IdentityFounded in Loughrea, Co. Galway, Chanelle Pharma has grown from its Irish origins into a global pharmaceutical leader in human and animal health, operating across more than 90 countries. That journey from the west of Ireland to the world stage mirrors the trajectory of the Galway Races itself — a festival that draws owners, trainers, breeders, and racing enthusiasts from across the globe to a uniquely Irish occasion.
The Leading Trainer Award recognises the outstanding trainer across the week’s racing card, celebrating the expertise, dedication and horsemanship that defines the sport at its highest level.
For Chanelle, whose veterinary division supplies the products and expertise that support equine health across Ireland and internationally, there is no more fitting expression of that commitment than honouring the professionals who bring horses to peak condition on the track.
The Best Turned Out Series, now in its second year under Chanelle’s sponsorship, shines a light on the often-unseen craft of stable staff — the grooms, handlers, and yard teams whose meticulous care and pride in their horses brings the colour, shine and occasion of the parade ring to life. Chanelle is proud to champion this recognition at a festival where presentation has always been part of the spectacle.
“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,” said Angelo Gatto, Chief Executive Officer of Chanelle Pharma.
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.”
“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 is one of the most significant events in the Irish sporting and cultural calendar, attracting an audience of over 130,000 people across the week and generating substantial economic activity for Galway city and county, and the broader west of Ireland economy.
For Chanelle Pharma, whose headquarters remain in Loughrea and whose workforce is deeply embedded in the local community, the festival is not simply a sponsorship opportunity — it is an expression of civic pride.Chanelle Pharma is a major employer in the region, with Loughrea serving as the hub for its manufacturing, research, regulatory and commercial functions.
The company’s continued investment in the region, including significant capital expansion and innovation programmes, reflects a long-term commitment to building a business that is globally competitive and locally accountable.
The Galway Races attract international visitors, media and business delegations, placing the west of Ireland on a global stage for the duration of the festival. For Chanelle — a company supplying products to more than 90 countries, operating to the highest international regulatory standards, and competing alongside the world’s largest pharmaceutical players — that visibility is meaningful.
The values the Galway Races embody excellence, tradition, community, and ambition, align directly with Chanelle’s own.
“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,” said Michael Moloney, Chief Executive of Galway Racecourse
“The Best Turned Out Series has also found a wonderful home with Chanelle — it celebrates the craft and dedication of stable teams in a way that resonates deeply with everyone in racing. We look forward to another exceptional week together.”
