Harness Racing - Horse Racing - Dog Racing - Equestrian
Aug. 08, 1965 - The Tide is out - and the Laytown races are on.: Two hours before the off, the racecourse was 6ft. under the Irish Sea. But the tide soon went down - and the horse lined up to start the Laytown Races on the beach. The Laytown Races, run under strict racing rules have been held annually for as long as anyone can remember. There's nothing quits like it in Ireland or anywhere else in the world. For any ordinary clerk of the course the whole thing would be nerve racking. But for Billy Kelly, it is just a question of studying moon cycles, tides, weather foredcasts and the Irish Racing Calendar. Mr. Kelly explained. The date for the annual meeting has to be picked with an eye on two things - the tide and other race firtures. There were only two days this month when the meeting could have been run. You don't know the state of the course until half-an-hour before-hand. All the rains have to go up, the starting gate has to be erected and all the markers have to be put in position. Photo shows the tide is out and the horses set off along the beach in the unique Laytown Races, yesterday
