THURSDAY, September 6th is a special year for racing at Laytown as it mark’s 150 years of racing at the Meath beach. Laytown’s race committee is launching a commemorative book Laytown Strand Races, celebrating 150 years in the Glenside Hotel in Julianstown, Co Meath on Tuesday, August 14th at 7.30pm.

Special guests are RTÉ racing pundit and trainer Ted Walsh and racing commentator Des Scahill who will share their Laytown races memories and stories with the audience. The launch event is free to attend.

Written by racing enthusiast John Kirwan and edited by Fiona Ahern, the book is packed with interviews, anecdotes, recollections and reminiscences about Laytown.

John, who was born on the fringes of Bellewstown Racecourse, is in charge of keeping the Bellewstown track in order throughout the year. He also knows Laytown well as he assists in the laying out of the racetrack there each September.

He spent last winter researching and compiling statistics and interviewing jockeys, trainers and owners who had participated in the Laytown Races over the years.

The result is a beautiful book with stunning photography, which also includes a round-up of all the racing held at Laytown since 1945 and an invaluable statistics section from 1919 onwards. John is also the author of 300 Years of Racing at Bellewstown in 2013.

Laytown Strand Races, celebrating 150 years costs €20. It will be on sale at the launch in the Glenside Hotel, at Laytown’s race meeting on September 6th and is available from Laytown Race Committee c/o Kevin Coleman, Bellewstown Racecourse Office, Bellewstown, Drogheda, Co Meath, contact number 087 6860639.