Racecourse Teams Up With Edinburgh's Oldest Brewery

LUCKY racegoers will be the first to try out a brand new drink from one of Scotland’s best-loved breweries at a day packed with thrills and activities.

A bumper crowd, including many families, is expected at Musselburgh Racecourse for its annual Caledonian Brewery Raceday on Saturday (Sep 10), which features the Caledonian Beer Festival, involving Edinburgh’s oldest brewery.

The brewery, will be launching its new Black lager, Dark Light, on the day, debuting the new drink alongside a wide array of other beers which racegoers can sample at the dedicated Scottish beer festival marquee.

Entertainment will also include live performances by both the Caledonian Brewery Pipe Band and a rousing ceilidh band, while delicious street-style food will be available across the racecourse, which is a five-star visitor attraction.

The atmosphere will also be ramped up with a thrilling race card. As well as the seven flat races, including the £20,000 Caledonian Cup, the crowd will also be treated to three fast-paced harness races.

Already one of the biggest events in Musselburgh packed annual schedule of fixtures, the race day is popular with racing enthusiasts and also a huge draw for families, as children under 17 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

Tickets are available on the day at £25 (£15 concession), with the doors opening at 12.30pm and the last race getting underway at 7.30pm. A host of packages ages are also available to be booked in advance, including fish and chips, Pommery Pop or Aberdeen Angus Burger & Beer, all from £40 per person via www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk.

Sarah Montgomery, Senior Operations and Commercial Manager at Musselburgh Racecourse said: “The Caledonian Brewery Raceday just keeps getting bigger and better.

“What better way to enjoy the thrill of some top quality racing than while sipping on the best beer in Edinburgh?

“We want our visitors to have the usual fantastic day out and with live music, harness racing and a buzzing atmosphere there is something for everyone. We’re even showing the St Leger live from Doncaster. All in all, we can’t wait to open the gates and hope to welcome many first time visitors.”

Nostalgia lovers will get the chance to relive a 1970s classic when they are asked to chronicle the event using 500 instant Polaroid photos. Racegoers will be urged to capture their favourite moments on instant cameras strategically placed around the venue.

While mobile phones and social media have enabled anyone to instantly view and share their photos, for decades the only way to see a photo in real time was with instant cameras, which printed out photos second after they were taken. The cameras enjoyed their heyday in the 1970s.

Sarah added “For younger visitors used to the speed and ease of Instagram and Snapchat, these cameras are a real throwback. However, when they get a chance to try them out for themselves, we’ll sure they’ll love the fun aspect of shaking the photo and waiting for the image to appear.

“Meanwhile, we hope this will be a brilliant trip down memory lane for older racegoers who will remember only too well the thrill of seeing a Polaroid camera in action for the first time.”

Participants will also have the chance to bring the experience bang up to date with a digital twist. Racecourse bosses want revellers to share their Polaroid images via Twitter, using the hashtag, #CALEYRACEDAY – with one lucky entrant winning a VIP tour and beer tasting session at the Caledonian Brewery in the capital.

Andy Mitchell, Marketing Manager at Caledonian Brewery said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Musselburgh Racecourse once again. The raceday is always a fantastic experience with an incredible atmosphere.

“Caledonian Brewery is oldest working Brewery in Edinburgh and we work hard to ensure our products suit our customers’ needs, so we are looking forward to hearing what race goers think of the many beers on offer – not least our new Black lager which we can’t wait to unveil to the public for the first time.”

Courtesy buses will be available on the day from Wallyford and Newcraighall train stations for savvy revellers looking to take advantage of the convenient public transport services to Musselburgh.

Musselburgh Racecourse is firmly established as one of the UK’s most stylish racecourses, hosting 28 flat and jumps meetings each year. Already popular with racing enthusiasts, it is a draw for both families and corporate clients.

Musselburgh Racecourse, which is currently in its 200^th anniversary year, just celebrated a sell-out success at its recent Stobo Castle Ladies Day, followed by a high-profile visit from the Queen, who unveiled a new sculpture to mark the prestigious bicentenary.

For more information on bus timings on the day please visit: https://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk/find-us