Unique Laytown: Anything but 'Standard'!

With horseracing's weekly calendar setup to smolder at the start of the week, rising to its pinnacle on the Saturday, punctuated all to occasionally by major meetings, we are blessed today with the once a year spectacle that is Laytown and I hope ATR do it justice.

As a racetrack Laytown doesn't exist and I understand that the only permanent building on the course is the Gents but I think it is safe to say that dampness of the course (picture left) is tidal and not the Ladies! 

On the run up to the meeting the race field is transformed from a green site to a racing enclosure, with parade ring, bookies pitches, judge’s box and temporary grand-stand erected. Marquees spring up to house the bar, restaurants, weigh rooms ambulance room and secretary’s office.

People travel from far and wide, including many annual overseas visitors, to see this unique event on the beach, and although the word 'unique' is bandied around a lot by promoters of events that have spurious claims to such worthiness, this spectacle is worthy of the moniker. Crowds as large as 11,000 turn up to see it every year. The last time that so many people were on a beach in Ireland was when the native Irish were trying to drive back the hordes of invading Vikings in the middle ages. 

The enclosures at Laytown consist of a three acre field elevated above the beach and the grandstand is hewn from steps cut into the sand dunes. The course itself is a section of the 3 mile long golden sand, which is closed on the morning of the races, which take place when the tide goes out.

I am sure that if you are going to get involved today you will want to know how the course is riding and I am pleased to tell you the official going is 'Standard' :)