Why you should take the family to Musselburgh races this Easter Saturday
It is the fourth year in a row they have held the event and it has become one of the highlights of the fixture list. Last year’s sunny weather saw a crowd of 6,000 racing fans - old and new - come through the stiles at the Linkfield Road course.
As winter fades and the spring sunshine takes hold, a day at Musselburgh races is a great way for all the family to welcome the new season.
With a race card that includes both the prestigious £100,000 Betway Queen’s Cup and the renowned Betway Scottish Sprint Cup, the fixture has plenty of appeal for the racing aficionado with a well-thumbed copy of the Racing Post in his or her pocket.
Not that you need to be able to tell your paddock from your nap to enjoy Easter Saturday at Musselburgh.
The racecourse prides itself on its family-friendly facilities and it is really pushing the boat out this year.
The Easter Bunny will be handing out chocolate throughout the day and little ones can make the most of a separate kids’ zone. As well as a craft tent, the zone will have face painting and fairground rides which are suitable for all sizes of young ‘un.
Budding jockeys can practice their riding skills in the Happy Hopper pen, a mini-paddock kitted out with pint-sized inflatable ponies. At 1pm, before the horse racing, local children will be dressing up in their racing silks and competing in a happy hopper Mini Queens Cup on the finishing stretch in front of the grandstand.
Everything in the kids’ zone is free and under 18s get free entry to the racecourse when accompanied by an adult.
‘Our Easter Saturday fixture is a fun day out for all the family,’ says a spokesperson for the racecourse. ‘There is plenty to entertain the children in the kids’ zone and it is also a great day out for groups of friends, stags, hens and couples. Last year, it was a gloriously sunny day with the temperature hitting 20 degrees. It was like summer.’
As well as the first class racing, there is lots of entertainment for the adults. Funkwagen will perform a live DJ set and the after party will continue for an hour and a half after the last race at 5.20pm. Social media fans can upload their best selfies and tag in the racecourse. The best will win a fantastic prize drawn at the end of the day.
Of course, there is no need to go hungry or thirsty. From pulled pork and apple sauce in Pinkie’s bar to Champagne in the Pommery bar, Musselburgh Racecourse has several bars, bistros and cafés. There will also be a variety of pop-ups and food trucks on the day. The Edinburgh Gin Tipple Trailer is always popular while street food favourite Dog n Bon will be serving up their quirky gourmet hot dogs and loaded fries.
Musselburgh Racecourse offers several packages to enhance the racing experience. These range from Pommery Pop packages to private boxes with a prime view of the finishing line. Guests can also save £5 by booking their ticket online in advance. Courtesy shuttle buses from Newcraighall and Wallyford train stations make it easy to get to and from the racecourse for guests travelling from the Borders, Edinburgh or beyond.
Seasoned race-goers will need no further encouragement to visit. For those who have yet to enjoy a day at Musselburgh Races the Easter Saturday fixture is a brilliant introduction to the sport of kings. Standing by the rails as the horses thunder past is a visceral thrill. Especially if the one in front has your fiver riding on it.
The racecourse opens at 11.30am and the first official race is at 1.50pm.
For more information and to book tickets visit the Musselburgh Racecourse website at www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk