Musselburgh Racecourse
Encyclopedia
Musselburgh Racecourse, known until the 1990s as Edinburgh Racecourse, is a horse racing
venue located in the Millhill area of Musselburgh
, East Lothian
, Scotland
, UK, close to the River Esk
.
At first, race meetings were held on the sands at Leith
, but in 1816 they moved to Musselburgh. The course offers both flat racing
and National Hunt meetings (though it only introduced jumping in 1987) and is 2 km long. In the middle of the course is a nine hole golf course, dating from at least 1672. The Musselburgh Golf Club was founded there in 1774.
A road bridge over the Esk gives access to the course on race days only; the rest of the time, the gates are kept closed.
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
venue located in the Millhill area of Musselburgh
Musselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
, East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, UK, close to the River Esk
River Esk, Lothian
The River Esk is a river which flows through Midlothian and East Lothian, Scotland.It initially runs as two separate rivers, the North Esk and the South Esk....
.
At first, race meetings were held on the sands at Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
, but in 1816 they moved to Musselburgh. The course offers both flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
and National Hunt meetings (though it only introduced jumping in 1987) and is 2 km long. In the middle of the course is a nine hole golf course, dating from at least 1672. The Musselburgh Golf Club was founded there in 1774.
A road bridge over the Esk gives access to the course on race days only; the rest of the time, the gates are kept closed.
External links
- Official website
- Gazetteer for Scotland
- BBC article on upgrading of the racecourse
- Course guide on GG.COM
- Course guide on At The Races