Musselburgh Racecourse has reported another strong year of increased attendances alongside the expansion of flagship events and continued investment in racing quality and the raceday experience.
The East Lothian track saw attendances in 2025 rise to 64,093 over 24 fixtures – a 10% year-on-year increase compared to 58,313 in 2024.
Key fixtures like Ladies Day continued pull in record crowds of around 8,500 – deliberately capped against historic highs of 10,500 to improve and maintain the customer experience.
One of the standout developments of the year has been the rapid growth of the Edinburgh Cup fixture, held on Derby Day Saturday (6 June) and supported by Edinburgh Gin, which attracts crowds of 7,000 and has potential for further growth.
The average number of runners per race is a key indicator of a racecourse’s competitiveness and has a direct bearing on media rights income from broadcasters and bookmakers – Musselburgh’s average of 8.2 per race compares well with national figures.
Building on this success, Musselburgh has forecast a 4% increase in prize money in 2026 of £2.64 million over 26 fixtures, compared to £2.44 million in 2025, targeting races which will attract more runners and improve the quality of the racing.
Alongside its headline racedays, Musselburgh continues to strengthen its calendar through themed and community-focused events. The Oktoberfest Raceday (12 September) is now entering its third year and continues to build steadily, while the Community Family Raceday (21 July) remains the racecourse’s key family fixture with free entry for children and a strong focus on affordability.
Novelty attractions such as the hugely popular Corgi Derby – held on Easter Saturday prior to the Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup – also continue to generate national and international media attention and crowd appeal.
Community partnerships remain an important part of the racecourse’s approach, particularly its relationship with The Royal Regiment of Scotland which celebrates its 20th anniversary at the Oktoberfest meeting, with continuing support for East Lothian Foodbank, Retraining of Racehorses, as well providing ticket donations for local fundraising initiatives.
Operationally, the racecourse also received industry recognition, including an Racecourse Association Showcase Award for its 90s-themed Friday Night at the Races event in July and two RCA Accolades for customer welcome and customer service standards, while retaining its Racehorse Owners Association Gold Standard Award for the Owner’s experience.
Musselburgh Racecourse’s Commercial & Operations Director, Sarah Montgomery, said: “Musselburgh delivered another strong year in 2025 despite some unpredictable weather and tighter consumer spending across the leisure sector, which makes it more important than ever to ensure that every raceday offers a compelling experience.
“Our team has done a fantastic job growing attendances across our key fixtures while continuing to evolve the raceday experience. Events like the Edinburgh Cup are developing into major flagship occasions for the racecourse, while Ladies Day remains one of the most popular fixtures in the Scottish racing calendar.
“At the same time we remain focused on maintaining high service standards, investing in prize money and strengthening long-term partnerships with sponsors and community organisations, as we continue to develop Musselburgh Racecourse in the years ahead.”
