Dressed up and raring to go, racehorse Franklee is under starter’s orders in a special tartan outfit designed by kiltmaker Gordon Nicolson of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
Book your tickets by this Friday to make sure of the best prices!
The handsome pair, pictured on historic Calton Hill overlooking the Scottish Capital, will be first-footing Musselburgh Racecourse’s Betway New Year’s Day Raceday.
The East Lothian course will help Edinburgh’s revellers blow away the Hogmanay cobwebs with a £112,000 racecard and the five star visitor attraction has become the ultimate place to make the most of Scotland’s famous New Year festivities.
The family-friendly day of spectacular jump racing action, with two £30,000 races, also features the oldest athletics event in the world – the finals of the 150th New Year Sprint.
A New Year’s Day Raceday fashion competition will see one reveller receive a made-to-measure his or hers tweed jacket by Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers and the winner will be able to select their own choice of tweed for their fitted creation from Lovat Mill, the Home of Tweed.
Fashion scouts will be out looking for the ‘Best Winter Outfit 2019’ and racegoers are being encouraged to don their finest winter ensembles to be in with a chance of winning.
Doors open at 10.30am and, after a traditional piper’s welcome visitors can experience a day of festive food, mulled drinks and top class racing. Two cosy marquees will feature live Scottish music from Reel Time and Funkwagen who will continue the celebrations as hosts of the After-Racing Party.
Musselburgh are also putting on a special First Foot bus service* available from central points in Edinburgh, Penicuik, Dalkeith, Dunbar, Haddington, Galashiels and Gorebridge to take racegoers to and from the racecourse. This ticket-only bus service is predicted to sell out fast and tickets are available to purchase online.
Sarah Montgomery, Senior Commercial and Operation Manager of Musselburgh Racecourse, said: “Our sell-out Betway New Year’s Day Raceday is perfect pick-me-up cure for the previous night’s Hogmanay hoolie, and it’s become one of our most popular days in the racing calendar.
“This year we’ve enhanced the offering to our visitors and have new additions including a piper on arrival, complimentary canapes, cosy marquees, live music, fashion competitions and a dedicated bus service from Edinburgh, East and Midlothian and the Borders. The bus service is set to sell out fast so we’re encouraging visitors to book their places as soon as possible.”
For something different Musselburgh also have two luxury yurts for hire which come with a dedicated concierge service and boast a woodburning stove and easy access to the Hogmaneigh Bar.
Book your Advance Admission Ticket before 11.59pm on Friday 7 December 2018 to save £10 per adult, costing just £25. Children under 17 go free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets are available to purchase at the turnstiles on the day.
*Ticket purchase is necessary via www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk for the bus service to and from Musselburgh Racecourse. Tickets are priced at £10 return per adult. Buses depart from Edinburgh at 11.15am, Galashiels 10am, Gorebridge 10.45am, Dunbar 10.15am and Haddington 10.40am with departures 4pm.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
