Horse Racing

Horse Racing Returns To Seaside With Annual Laytown Races On Monday

By
Kyle Curran
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Kyle Curran Sports Editor

Kyle Curran is a sports writer who specialises in football (soccer), horse racing and darts, but has the ability to write about a range of different sports. He can regularly be found providing live football (soccer) commentary on Flashscore. He was also formerly an editor and accredited journalist at Prost International covering Premier League and EFL fixtures. Kyle also holds a degree in Football Journalism (BA Hons) from the University of Derby.

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Published15 Sep 2024

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Laytown Races

Horse racing returns to the beach on Monday as Laytown races hold their special meeting. Find out all you need to know about the annual event down below. 

Laytown Races 2024: What Is It & When Does It Take Place?

The annual Laytown races returns on Monday 16th September in what is one of the most unique events on the horse racing calendar. Gates open at 2:30pm, with the first race off at 4:35pm with racing right through until 7:05pm, see the full schedule further down the page.

Laytown beach in County Meath, Ireland holds an annual race day next to the sea and it is the only race meeting run on a beach under the Rules of Racing. Due to the nature of the venue, races can only be run over 6 or 7 furlongs.

It is an event that attracts some of the biggest jockeys in Ireland, with the legendary Ruby Walsh once riding there. Meanwhile Rachael Blackmore, Paul Townsend and Danny Mullins have also been in action on the beach before.

Some of the biggest trainers often send their horses to Laytown Races, with Ballydoyle mastermind Aidan O’Brien known to saddle runners there.

Schedule For Laytown Races 2024

  • 4:35pm – 6f Download The New Tote App Handicap (4yo+ 50-75)
  • 5:05pm – 6f Gilna’s Cottage Inn Handicap (4yo+ 47-65)
  • 5:35pm – 7f Tote.ie Claiming Race (4yo+)
  • 6:05pm – 7f Pride Of Place Maiden (4yo+)
  • 6:35pm – 7f ONEILLS.COM (Q.R.) Handicap (4yo+ 50-80)
  • 7:05pm – 7f Tote, Never Beaten By SP (Q.R.) Race (4yo+)

Laytown Races Opened Their Doors In 1868

Racing has took place at Laytown since 1868 and according to locals, it was the parish priest who organised the action on the three miles of golden sand.

Fast-forward over 150 years later, and Laytown’s annual race day is still one of the most fun events of the year.

On Race Day, the beach is closed off from the early morning and when the tide goes out, work can begin and so can the action on track.

People have been known to come from all around the world to spectate this unique event, with Japanese tourists huge fans of the meeting. The average attendance on Laytown Races day is around 7000, with as high as 11,000 some years.

Best Laytown Races Jockeys & Trainers

Note: statistics from the last five seasons

Best Trainers

  • Adrian McGuinness – 22 runs, 6 wins (27%)
  • Dermot Weld – 2 runs, 2 wins (100%)
  • Ivan Furtado – 2 runs, 2 wins (100%)
  • Gerard O’Leary – 3 runs, 1 win (33%)

Best Jockeys

  • Mr T.Hamilton – 8 runs, 3 wins (38%)
  • D. King – 4 runs, 2 wins (50%)
  • Patrick Mullins – 5 runs, 2 wins (40%)
  • Siobhan Rutledge – 5 runs, 1 win (20%)
  • Mr Finian Maguire – 6 runs, 1 win (17%)

When Is The Next Laytown Race Day?

Following Monday’s meeting (16th September), the next meeting held at Laytown is the following year between 15th-18th September.