. If anything, running on sand favors horses which like to run in the front because horses are very unlikely to be able to overtake from behind, as the sand makes it difficult for the horses to quicken their pace in the final stages of the race, as they would on a grass track.

So after a great day out and some unexpected winners, the final race of the

Horse racing has always played a big part in Irish life. But one race meeting that only takes place once a year is totally unique and here's why.

Ever since 1897 a once a year race meeting has been held at Laytown on the east coast of Ireland. Once it was one of a number of similar race meetings, but now it is totally unique in the whole of Europe, because the races are held on the beach.

The day of the race meeting is set as that day when the tide is at its lowest. Even so, the race stewards have their own race to get the course set up, the races run and the course dismantled before the sea returns to reclaim the sands.

Many years ago there were races held on beaches all over the island of Ireland, but coastal erosion has now rendered many of the sandy beaches unsafe, because of the rocks mixed into the sand. As a consequence, Laytown, being the last surviving beach race course, is heavily supported with the crowd traveling a hundred miles or more to the event. Indeed, so popular is the meeting with trainers and owners, a ballot has to be held to decide which horses will run.

The race is run along official lines with the course properly marked out with white railings, set up for the day, and with full attendance by the bookmakers. Because -- unlike America -- horses in Ireland are normally run on grass, establishing their "form" on sand is problematical and many outsiders win at useful odds. If anything, running on sand favors horses which like to run in the front because horses are very unlikely to be able to overtake from behind, as the sand makes it difficult for the horses to quicken their pace in the final stages of the race, as they would on a grass track.

So after a great day out and some unexpected winners, the final race of the

ause the races are held on the beach.

The day of the race meeting is set as that day when the tide is at its lowest. Even so, the race stewards have their own race to get the course set up, the races run and the course dismantled before the sea returns to reclaim the sands.

Many years ago there were races held on beaches all over the island of Ireland, but coastal erosion has now rendered many of the sandy beaches unsafe, because of the rocks mixed into the sand. As a consequence, Laytown, being the last surviving beach race course, is heavily supported with the crowd traveling a hundred miles or more to the event. Indeed, so popular is the meeting with trainers and owners, a ballot has to be held to decide which horses will run.

The race is run along official lines with the course properly marked out with white railings, set up for the day, and with full attendance by the bookmakers. Because -- unlike America -- horses in Ireland are normally run on grass, establishing their "form" on sand is problematical and many outsiders win at useful odds. If anything, running on sand favors horses which like to run in the front because horses are very unlikely to be able to overtake from behind, as the sand makes it difficult for the horses to quicken their pace in the final stages of the race, as they would on a grass track.

So after a great day out and some unexpected winners, the final race of the

eland, but coastal erosion has now rendered many of the sandy beaches unsafe, because of the rocks mixed into the sand. As a consequence, Laytown, being the last surviving beach race course, is heavily supported with the crowd traveling a hundred miles or more to the event. Indeed, so popular is the meeting with trainers and owners, a ballot has to be held to decide which horses will run.

The race is run along official lines with the course properly marked out with white railings, set up for the day, and with full attendance by the bookmakers. Because -- unlike America -- horses in Ireland are normally run on grass, establishing their "form" on sand is problematical and many outsiders win at useful odds. If anything, running on sand favors horses which like to run in the front because horses are very unlikely to be able to overtake from behind, as the sand makes it difficult for the horses to quicken their pace in the final stages of the race, as they would on a grass track.

So after a great day out and some unexpected winners, the final race of the

to decide which horses will run.

The race is run along official lines with the course properly marked out with white railings, set up for the day, and with full attendance by the bookmakers. Because -- unlike America -- horses in Ireland are normally run on grass, establishing their "form" on sand is problematical and many outsiders win at useful odds. If anything, running on sand favors horses which like to run in the front because horses are very unlikely to be able to overtake from behind, as the sand makes it difficult for the horses to quicken their pace in the final stages of the race, as they would on a grass track.

So after a great day out and some unexpected winners, the final race of the

. If anything, running on sand favors horses which like to run in the front because horses are very unlikely to be able to overtake from behind, as the sand makes it difficult for the horses to quicken their pace in the final stages of the race, as they would on a grass track.

So after a great day out and some unexpected winners, the final race of the day is held: to dismantle the course railings before that most relentless of winners -- the incoming tide -- arrives.

Copyright 2007 Joseph Donegal and The-Best_Of_Ireland.com