Whilst the earliest occasion racing was staged in Laytown, County Meath was in 1867 when a course was marked out on the sands of the strand, a straight near-level stretch of sand over 6 and 7 furlongs, the only horse race was the Farmers Race, it is generally accepted that 1868 was the first official meeting. Local legend suggests the race meeting was the brainchild of a priest in the neighbourhood. The atmosphere at the course is like no other, and racing can only take place on one day each year, usually in August or September. Although there were annual regatta races, often accompanied by Pony Races, in the early 1860s, the first occasion the programme included a race for thoroughbreds was on Thursday 1st August 1867 when the Laytown Farmers' Race was won by Mr Bowery's Good Child ridden by P Wilson. In 1901 a local landowner took over the administrative duties and today the ‘Laytown experience’ is enjoyed by thousands. Local fields are used as enclosures, with stalls and marquees stretching the extent of the course. Although the quality of racing is not always high, that does not prevent massive crowds from attending and enjoying the event. Currently the course hosts one fixture annually.
Thursday 1st August 1867
Laytown Farmers' Race (10 sovereigns)
1. Good Child owned by Mr Bowery and ridden by P Wilson
2. Mermaid owned by Mr Kirk and ridden by R Wilson
3. Marchioness owned by Mr Bradley and ridden by Reilly
4. Beeswing owned by Mr Campbell and ridden by Lee
5. Brunette owned by Mr Simcock and ridden by Newcomen
6. Drogheda Lass owned by Mr McGeowan and ridden by L Byrne
The card was extended in 1868 to include a Stakes Hurdle race, the usual Farmers' Race and a pony race.
Wednesday 5th August 1868
Laytown Stakes Hurdle (30 sovereigns) over 1 mile
1. Seapink, bay mare owned by Mr Callaghan and ridden by D Callaghan
2. Kite, chestnut gelding owned by Mr J Greene and ridden by P Carthy
3. Sea Nymph, bay mare owned by Mr H Kirk and ridden by R Kirk
4. The Red Earl, chestnut gelding owned by Mr G W Lambart and ridden by Lambart
5. The Spinner, chestnut filly owned by Mr P J Reynolds and ridden by P Wilson
6. Louisa Jane, bay mare owned by Captain Long and ridden by Ryan
7. Mayflower, chestnut mare owned by Mr R Daly and ridden by R Wilson
Laytown Farmers' Race (10 sovereigns)
1. Browne Bess, brown mare owned by Mr Keating
2. The Spinner, chestnut filly owned by Mr Reynolds
3. Seapink, bay mare owned by Mr Callaghan
4. Good Child, bay gelding owned by Mr Bowery
5. Mayflower, chestnut mare owned by Mr Daly
6. Sea Nymph, bay mare owned by Mr Kirk
7. Tredagh, brown mare owned by Mr Byrne
The 150th Anniversary of Laytown races was marked by a meeting on Thursday 6th September 2018, with results from the 6 race programme shown below.
Thursday 6th September 2018
Gilna's Cottage Inn Maiden over 7 furlongs was won by Bay of Skaill (4/1) owned by Mrs Patricia Mullane, trained by Joseph Murphy and ridden by G F Carroll
ScotchHall Shopping Centre Claiming race over 7 furlongs was won by Cyrus Dallin (9/4 fav) owned by Westerners Syndicate, trained by Gerard Hogan and ridden by D G Hogan
O’Neills Sports 100 years Handicap over 7 furlongs was won by Florencio (10/11 fav) owned by Melbourne 10 Racing, trained by Jamie Osborne and ridden by Ms Lisa O’Neill (see below)
Hibernia Steel Race over 7 furlongs was won by Waqaas (5/4 fav) owned by The Goodracing, trained by Jamie Osborne and ridden by Ms Lisa O’Neill
Bohan Hyland & Associates Handicap over 6 furlongs was won by Monumental Man (10/1) owned by Melbourne 10 Racing, trained by Jamie Osborne and ridden by C T Keane
@Melbourne 10 Racing Handicap over 6 furlongs was won by Tyrconnell (13/2) owned by Edward Lynam, trained by Sarah Lynam and ridden by D E Sheehy
