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sport · Thursday 10 September 2026 · 4:30pm 
Laytown Strand Races 2026
At Laytown Beach · Strand Road, Laytown, Co. Meath
At Laytown Beach · Strand Road, Laytown, Co. Meath
Once a year, when the September tide pulls back to reveal a long stretch of flat sand on the Co. Meath coast, horses race on Laytown Beach under the full authority of Horse Racing Ireland - making it the only official beach horse race meeting in Europe. The Laytown Strand Races have been running since 1868, when the day began with a rowing regatta on the high tide and the racing started as the water retreated. That same rhythm still drives the event today: the entire programme depends on the tide falling at the right moment. It is a proper race meeting - six races over six and seven furlongs, run under Irish Rules - but the setting lifts it well beyond the ordinary. Crowds of 5,000 or more regularly make the trip, drawn as much by the spectacle as by the racing itself.
The venue is the beach itself, with a temporary village built on the elevated ground above the strand. Marquees go up for bars and restaurants, and the jockeys’ room and weigh-in facilities are all set up fresh each year - there is no permanent grandstand, and no fixed infrastructure at all. Gates open at 2:30pm, and the first race goes off at approximately 4:30pm, depending on tide. The racing is flat, the course is straight, and the horses run directly on the sand. Seeing thoroughbreds thunder past at close range, with the Irish Sea behind them, is not something you forget quickly. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed - families, racing fans, and people who have never placed a bet in their lives all mix comfortably. Dress for the weather: this is an exposed beach in early September, so a warm layer is worth having, whatever the forecast says. There is no formal dress code.
Laytown sits on the east Meath coast, roughly 45km north of Dublin city centre. By rail, the Dublin-Drogheda commuter line stops at Laytown/Bettystown station, which is a short walk from the beach - the train is the most straightforward option on race day and keeps you clear of car park queues. By road, Laytown is just off the M1/N1 motorway. Parking is available locally on the day; follow event signage on arrival and allow extra time, as the area gets busy.
Laytown and its neighbour Bettystown share a long, low-key beach that is pleasant outside race season too. The Boyne Valley is minutes inland, with Newgrange and the Hill of Tara both within easy reach of the town. There is more to see in Laytown and across Co. Meath.
Heading to Laytown Beach in Laytown? Meath has plenty more to see. Read the Laytown area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.