‘Pride of Place’ residents race
Children’s colouring competition
Laytown Races are under starters orders for the famous beach race meeting, which takes place on Laytown Strand on Thursday September 8. The first race will go to post at approximately 4:50pm.
The Laytown Races 2022 launch will take place at 8pm in Gilna’s The Cottage Inn, Laytown, on Thursday August 25 and all local residents and racegoers are welcome. Legendary race commentator Des Scahill will act as MC and will bring guests through Laytown’s exciting plans for the unique race meeting on Thursday September 8.
The Pride of Place Maiden has become a firm favourite at Laytown since its introduction at the 2019 race meeting. At the launch event on Thursday August 25, the draw will take place to randomly allocate the local housing estates/residential areas with a horse in the race – a maximum of ten horses will run.
The estate matched to the first horse home in the race will win a €400 voucher for Pat’s Nurseries, Laytown and the runner-up will win a €300 voucher for Black’s Garden Centre in Julianstown which can be used by residents to enhance their estate or Laytown village with plants, flowers, or trees. Representatives of the winning resident groups will be invited into the parade ring for a special presentation after the race.
This September will see Laytown Races expand the food court area that was successfully introduced at the 2019 fixture. Racegoers will enjoy an improved and expanded food and beverage offering along with a new seating area.
The Laytown Race Committee are delighted to engage with the pupils of Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh and Scoil Oilibheir Naofa national schools with a racing colouring competition. The pupils will receive their colouring competition templates when the new school term starts at the end of the month. The colouring competition entries will be displayed in the Laytown Races enclosure on Thursday September 8. Entries will be judged on three age categories – four to six year olds, seven to nine year olds and ten years old and upwards. Scotch Hall Shopping Centre in Drogheda will sponsor gift cards for each category as follows: first prize €100, second prize €50 and €25 for third prize.
Chairman of Laytown Races, Joe Collins, said: “We are really looking forward to Laytown Races this September with no restrictions. The committee members and I are always keen to constantly engage with the local community and give the best experience possible to all our racegoers.
“So, in addition to the unique races on the beach, we are excited to introduce the new and improved food court. We hope the colouring competition will provide a platform where the pupils of Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh and Scoil Oilibheir Naofa can learn more about horses in a child-centred way.
“The Pride of Place Maiden has gone from strength to strength and allows us to give a little bit back to residents who have always been so supportive of the Laytown Races.
“Tickets are available to buy online at www.laytownstrandraces.ie – and anyone who buys their tickets online will be entered into a draw to win four tickets, race cards and food court vouchers for our 2023 meeting.”
Regular buses and trains will run to Laytown on the day and while public transport is strongly recommended there are also three free public parking areas on race day – one beside the train station, the field car park opposite Gilna’s The Cottage Inn, in Laytown village and the roundabout car park at Tara Road. A free shuttle bus will also run from the train station and Tara Road car parks to the racecourse enclosure.
Full details are available on www.laytownstrandraces.ie
