Musselburgh Races Today – Read Musselburgh Tips from Edinburgh Track
Just a few miles outside the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh, you will find Musselburgh races today . In this guide, we take you through the history of the course, study the track configuration, and look into the biggest meetings and races for which we provide Musselburgh tips.
History of Musselburgh Racecourse
The first records of racing in Musselburgh date back to 1777, organised by the Royal Caledonian Hunt. From 1789 to 1816 meetings took place on the sands at Leith, which were a a traditional landing stage for the monarch when visiting Edinburgh.
By 1816 and following the end of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, racing returned to Musselburgh itself, on a purposely laid out track created by the town council. Musselburgh races today still takes place at the same location.
The racecourse is just six miles away from Edinburgh city centre, which is much closer than Hamilton Park is to the middle of Glasgow. Legalisation of off-course betting shops hit Scottish racecourses hard.
Bogside Racecourse closed in 1965 and Lanark followed in 1977, reducing the number of racecourses in the lowlands and central belt of Scotland. At one point it seemed as if Musselburgh might go the same way.
With the course losing money, East Lothian Council took over the running of the venue in 1991. Having restored financial stability, Council and the Lothians Racing Syndicate created the Musselburgh Joint Racing Committee to run the course, which is a partnership which is still in place today.
Many improvements have been made to the course over the years. These include the addition of All-Weather strips on the bends in 2012, to prevent them from cutting up badly after rain.
Musselburgh races today is the biggest racecourse in Scotland and the 14th largest in the UK as a whole. It features a busy year round schedule, featuring various levels of race status, which we will further explore in this guide to Musselburgh horse racing tips below.
Is Musselburgh Races Today Flat or Jumps?
Musselburgh is a dual purpose racecourse that features both competitive jump racing and Flat race action. A level right-handed, sharp track with tight turns, there is a five-furlong straight sprint course for the Flat.
One complete circuit of the round course is just over a mile-and-a-quarter. Where the sprint course joins the home straight proper, there’s a run-in of half-a-mile.
For jump races, the run-in from the back of the last hurdle or final fence is about 150 yards. In a hurdle race, there are six flights to jump on a complete circuit. Three in the back straight and three more after turning for home.
With a steeple chase, meanwhile, horses cross eight fences. Four of these are down the back and another four in the home straight. There are open ditches as the third in the back stretch and the second after turning for home.
As the track features those sharp turns, it doesn’t tend to suit big galloping types and is better for nimble, sure-footed horses. This is a factor that we consider when making our tips for Musselburgh today.
Another factor that we consider when giving our Musselburgh racing tips, is that it’s one of the best draining courses in the UK. So conditions don’t tend to be too testing and this therefore suits horses that thrive on faster ground.
Key Musselburgh Races Fixtures
With both flat and hurdle race events taking place throughout the year, there is a busy schedule of race meetings at Musselburgh. This means that you’re never too long from Racing Tipster’s next instalment of horse racing tips for Musselburgh.
In total there are 25 race days starting in January and going right through to late December. Many regular patrons choose to be members at Musselburgh, giving them access to race passes.
The meetings feature various levels of race status, with the majority featuring decent types. Nonetheless, there are some definite standout events with big feature races where the standard is higher.
The first is on New Year’s Day, which includes the Auld Reekie Handicap Chase and the Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle. On the first weekend of February there is the Scottish Trials Weekend, which features the Scottish Champion Chase and Edinburgh National.
The first big event on the Flat takes place in April and often falls on Easter Saturday. It includes two notable handicaps in the Queen’s Cup and Scottish Sprint Cup.
Then on the same day as the Epsom Derby in early June, there’s another big Flat meeting. Headlining this one is the Edinburgh Cup, while the card also features the Queen Of Scots Stakes.
As is the case with most modern racecourses, there are themed events to keep the punters happy and Musselburgh’s are more creative than most. The schedule includes a Family Raceday, Ladies Day, 90s Night, Oktoberfest Raceday, Student Raceday and a Christmas Jumper Raceday.
Our Musselburgh racing tips today cover all of these meetings. Check in on us at Racing Tipster to get the best betting advice.
The Biggest Races We Give Musselburgh Tips for
As you will now be aware, there are a good variety of meetings at Musselburgh races today. Yet some feature a higher race status than others.
While many lower class events take place in the second half of the year here, the best of the action is up to and including June. Let’s take a look at the major races for which we provide Musselburgh tips today.
Queen’s Cup
This is a Heritage Handicap over 1m 6f for four-year-olds and up that takes place at the main April or Easter Saturday fixture. It was abandoned because of waterlogging in 2024.
That means the most recent winner was Wise Eagle in 2023, who claimed the £51,540 first prize. This staying handicap race has had several surprise winners at decent odds in recent years, generally upsetting the predictions made by experts who give Musselburgh race tips.
Scottish Champion Chase
A Class 2 handicap chase, now over an extended 2m 4f, after the race distance increased from two miles in 2024. Horses compete for the Bowes-Lyon Trophy in this race, which happens over the Scottish Trials Weekend in February.
The Kalooki Kid took home a bumper first prize of £51,440 in 2025. Musselburgh have really tried hard with their revamping of this race and attracting better horses to the two-day meeting.
Edinburgh National
This is a Class 2 staying handicap chase over an extended 3m 7f. It was reduced in distance from an extended four miles in 2022.
Scheduled for the second day of the Scottish Trials Weekend, this is another of the biggest events held at Musselburgh races today. First prize in 2025 was almost £39,250 and with Magna Sam repeating his 2023 success again.
Edinburgh Cup
A Class 3 handicap race on the Flat for three-year-olds rated 0-95 over the unusual distance of nine furlongs. The Edinburgh Cup takes centre stage at the fixture in June clashing with the Epsom Derby down south in Greater London.
It is another of the “Cup races” run at the track over the summer months open to horses at a lower level like the Musselburgh Gold Cup and Portobello Cup. First prize in 2024 was £25,770, taken home by Watcha Matey.
Scottish Sprint Cup
This is a Class 2 sprint handicap for older horses (aged four or more) up the 5f home straight, that takes place at the April fixture. Often on Easter Saturday, in 2024 this meeting was abandoned, so the most recent winner was Silky Wilkie who claimed £23,200 in 2023.
Scottish Triumph Hurdle
This has Listed race status and is for four-year-olds only over about two miles on the opening day of Scottish Trials Weekend. It is one of the final Triumph Hurdle trials in the UK.
Paul Nicholls enjoys a trip to Musselburgh Racecourse, winning this race four times since 2016. First prize in 2025 was £22,780 aith St Pancras successful.
Queen Of Scots Stakes
A Listed race over 7f for three-year-old fillies and mares and up at the June fixture. It was Formerly known as the Maggie Dickson Stakes.
Named after a local celebrity nicknamed Half-Hangit Maggie, famous for surviving her own execution. In 2024, the first prize was almost £22,700 with Jabaara landing the spoils.
Auld Reekie Handicap Chase
A Class 2 handicap chase for horses rated 0-145 over an extended 2m 4f on New Year’s Day. First prize in 2025 was almost £21,000 and was won by Fidelio Vallis.
FAQs
Is Musselburgh races on today?
Take a look at our racecard to see if they are taking place. If there are Musselburgh races today results, tips, information on non-runners and much more, will be available right here at Racing Tipster.
Where is Musselburgh Racecourse?
This East Lothian racecourse is six miles from Edinburgh. Drivers should enter EH21 7RG in their SatNav. The nearest train station is Wallyford, with a free bus operating from the nearby Park and Ride, leaving more money in your pocket to go towards your bet stakes.
Why give free Musselburgh tips?
We want as many punters as possible to be able to make the most of our Musselburgh races tips. The best way to ensure that happens is to keep them freely available, with no charge for our readers. You can also get your Musselburgh races results today right here at Racing Tipster
Is Musselburgh races on TV today?
The exciting jumps racing and flat action from Musselburgh is broadcast on Racing TV. Occasional meetings may also feature on ITV’s racing coverage. Check listings for details.
Why is Musselburgh races cancelled?
If Musselburgh is abandoned, it is likely to be due to bad weather. Check in at our racecard section to see if it’s going ahead if there is any doubt. Assuming there are Musselburgh races today tips, results, form, race status and other information will be available here.
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