FEW sights can get the heart bolstered like horses thundering along a seascape. As preparations are underway for the welcome return of Meath’s Laytown Races on Monday, committee member Hughie Leech has assured me all eyes are on the weather forecast, and it’s looking fresh but friendly for Monday.

Without generous support from HRI, another race cancellation could have meant the end of the historical event, according to Leech. Monday is set to be a dry, breezy day, just the thing to blow through the confinement blues imprinted on us by the pandemic.

A day by the sea could be the perfect tonic for us all. The east coast beach at Laytown has been the choice for the race since 1865, and the act of selecting the seven to eight furlong track is a skill that has evolved over many years.

“Beaches by their nature are dynamic,” explains Leech, “so there are several considerations every year in preparation for the historic race. The race committee and HRI inspect the potential course (what we call The Bank) on the Friday before the race.

“We walk the sand when the tide is out and try to select the best mile as close to the viewing public as we can. The meeting is the only race event run on a beach under the rules of the Turf Club and consists of all the familiar elements including the finishing post, judges’ box and bookies pitches.”

Leech assures me jellyfish don’t often make an appearance but tractors are kept on standby to help in case the Irish sea delivers an influx of seaweed and some raking is required, but that’s a very scarce event; in fact, other than the ephemeral nature of the race itself, there have been few anomalies in its long history.

In 1994 there was the incident where a couple of horses fell and one bolted and caused some trouble, but the race was shortened following investigation and now no longer includes any turns. This makes for a thrilling, fast, straight race from Bettystown to Laytown, with no more than 10 horses in each run: good odds for a fun day out.

Capacity is halved this year, but the online-only ticket sales are good; there are food stalls and plenty of parking. Individual horses have been allocated to each local estate for the Pride of Place Maiden race. A bit of fun made even more exciting this year with the later declarations, which will be live at 10am on Saturday, only two days before the event. The only regular thing missing, according to Leech, will be England’s Jamie Osborne and the Melbourne 10 syndicate who come every year resplendent in their blazers and good craic.

This year they have been unable to attend but have marked their absence by sponsoring race number two, which they have affectionately named The Sorry We Can’t Be With You Handicap.