A SCOTS curtain raiser race day will kick off in East Lothian on Saturday with the Virgin Bet Easter Saturday Raceday launching Musselburgh Racecourse’s 16-fixture Flat season.
The prize pot on offer is a whopping £295,000, up from 2023’s prize of £230,000.
The Virgin Bet Queen’s Cup is the featured race attracting entries from across the UK with a prize of £100,000.
Scotland’s fastest horse race, the Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup for £45,000 remains attractive to five returners.
The Queen’s Cup runner-up Metier, trained by Harry Fry in Dorset, will bid to go 3.35pm (pari-mutuel) for Saturday’s race.
Metier scored the 2023 Chester Cup after getting second-place at Musselburgh.
Callum Shepherd has only won once at the East Lothian track.
His trainer from Newmarket, George Scott has him booked for the month on Prydwen.
Berkshire Rocco’s handler Andrew Balder has secured David Probert for the ride.
Berkshire landed in fifth place at last year’s Ebor Handicap in York.
Faylaq trained by Jim Goldie and Lucinda Russell’s Evaluation are some Scottish competitors.
Musselburgh said some favourites include: John and Sean Quinn’s Jm Jungle, along with previous winners, Karl Burke’s Silky Wilkie and David and Nicola Barron’s Zarzyni.
In the 2.25pm Virgin Bet Silver Arrow Handicap, last April’s winner, Gweedore, was successful for the second year running, and his Galashiels trainer, Katie Scott, is preparing her stable star for the hat-trick.
Musselburgh’s Flat season runs through to 6 November including The Edinburgh Cup on 1 June, Friday Night at the Races on 2 August, and the popular Ladies Day on 9 August.
Racecourse director, Bill Farnsworth, said: “Sales for Easter Saturday are ahead of forecast so we are sure of an excellent atmosphere for our curtain raiser to the Flat season.
“Not surprisingly, the £100,000 purse for the Virgin Bet Queen’s Cup has caught the attention of some of the leading trainers and we can expect a very competitive contest.
“The fast and furious Scottish Sprint Cup will have the crowd on their feet as always.
“We have an excellent Flat racing programme evenly spread throughout the summer and autumn months which cements Musselburgh’s reputation as one of the UK’s most innovative and attractive racing venues and we look forward to welcoming guests old and new.”
Gates open on Saturday 30 March at 11.30am, the first race is off at 1.50pm, and the last race at 5.20pm.
Any tickets booked before midnight on 29 March are £5 off per person. When accompanied by an adult, children aged years and under are admitted for free.
