Laytown Races

Been twice to Laytown racing and going a third time later this year. It is a thoroughly enjoyable day out.

Laytown races in September is probably the most enjoyable experience a racegoer, and numerous others, could wish for. It is a unique occasion, the atmosphere is amazing and the Irish are the most friendly and welcoming people we have ever met. We have already bought tickets for our visit in 2020. An absolute joy.

We’re not really horse racing fans but were in the area and checked it out. Laytown beach is a long sandy beach with several sandbars, and a flat racing event has been held here for over 140 years. The event takes place every September, depending on the tides, on a straight course of six to seven furlong distance. There was a large enthusiastic attendance - this is Ireland’s only official horse racing event run on a beach. The beach is interrupted by the Nanny River, flowing through the beach and into the Irish Sea. On one side of the river there are dunes, and a shell bank and on the other side is a thatched cottage, often seen in photos of Laytown Beach.This racing event was a once off but worth seeing once.

What a gem the Laytown races are.
For any racing fan a visit to Laytown is a must. True it is not the best quality racing but as a spectacle it is fantastic. The course is the beach with just a few steps cut into the escarpment above it as a grandstand. It felt very similar to the smaller ’gaff’ tracks in the UK. A big day out for all the local community with us racing tourists thrown in for good measure. There were a plethora of bookmakers with hordes of people throwing their hard earned at them.
The compact nature of the ring and public area probably made it appear busier than it actually was.. Indeed for 364 days of the year the Laytown Racing Club is probably just a small paddock overlooking the Irish Sea.
Definitely something to be experienced and with easy access from Dublin (via a regular train service) it should be on every visitors itinerary on an early September visit to Ireland.

Great day out on the sands in Laytown ????Stayed in Balbriggan just up street from railway station, good location to get to from airport and onwards to racing .Wpuld definitely go again, but it is earlier next year because of the tide.

All I can say is this is the worst we have ever been treated at a racecourse, and I have been to every course in Britain. The chef forgot about our table I refused my meal and was told by a lady that they had been to our table three times with our meal. I was called a liar and was asked to leave the course. My wife got her meal but it was freezing.180 Euros per head.Absolutely shocking.They will not answer phone call.

I had a great day out. Not far from the hotel I was staying in. Brilliant views and not too cramped there either.

This was my wife and my second time to the races here, our first visit we took the train from Dublin about 8 years ago, this time we stayed in Laytown at The Cottages at about the 3 furlong pole, the day of the races it was fun to watch the tide go out and the transformation of the course on the beach, the day at the races was also a great event and getting to meet people from all over europe who had just come for the races, we will definitely do it again.