Racing against the tide at Courtmacsherry

Basking in glorious sunshine, punters, holiday-makers and locals all enjoyed great racing at the annual Courtmacsherry Strand Races at the scenic west Cork seaside village yesterday.

From early afternoon, horse trucks and trailers took the coastal road and the racehorses were unloaded and then cooled down adjacent to the park. The handlers duly walked the horses — and indeed a few ponies from the earlier races — up and down the village in preparation for their annual run on the embankment.

By then, the tide had receded to unveil the white posts and track and after a quick circle of the parade ring, it wasn’t that long before the first participants went on track for the Strand Plate, which was won by Here comes the Pain, ridden by Mallow’s Darragh O’Keeffe.

Back on the street, there was a grandstand view from either side of the community hall, which doubled as the weighing room and café.

The call of the bookies added to the atmosphere as chips, crepes, and cones sold like the proverbial hot cakes.

It was also an evening for fashionistas, with the best dressed lady competition an integral part of proceedings that ensured a busy afternoon in Courtmacsherry.