Musselburgh Racecourse is situated on the Firth of Forth, just over six miles east of Edinburgh in East Lothian, Scotland and, until the 1990s, was known as Edinburgh racecourse. Rescued from closure by East Lothian Council in 1991, the racecourse and its facilities underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment and, today, Musselburgh hosts 26 Flat and National Hunt fixtures throughout the year.

Course Characteristics

The round course at Musselburgh is a right-handed, sharp oval, approximately a mile and a quarter around. The course is relatively flat, but the tight bends favour agile, nimble types. On the straight five-furlong course, which starts on a chute at the top of the home straight, horses drawn low have a slight advantage on good or faster going. The National Hunt course is similar in characteristics to the round course on the Flat, with eight, stiff fences, or six flights of hurdles, per circuit.

Track Facts

The Edinburgh Cup, run over 1 mile 4 miles 100 yards at Musselburgh in June, is Scotland’s second richest flat race.

The first recorded meeting at Musselburgh racecourse, in its current location, took place in 1816.

The first National Hunt meeting at Musselburgh took place on January 5, 1967.

Ladies’ Day at Musselburgh in 2007 was the first horseracing event in Scotland ever to sell out in advance.

Market Rasen Racecourse was built in its current location, just outside Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, by a group of local entrepreneurs in 1923. The first official National Hunt fixture was staged in 1924 and, except for World War II, when the course and its buildings were used by the Yorkshire Hussars, the course has continued to flourish ever since. Market Rasen Racecourse now hosts 20 National Hunt fixtures throughout the year.

Course Characteristics

Market Rasen Racecourse consists of a right-handed, sharp, undulating oval, approximately a mile and a quarter around, with a run-in of just over a furlong. There are eight, easy fences, including a water jump in front of the stands, or five flights of hurdles, per circuit. On the whole, Market Rasen favours agile, nimble horses that like to lead or race close to the pace.

Track Facts

The Tote facility at Market Rasen operated for the first time in 1931.

A photo-finish camera was installed for the first time at Market Rasen in 1964.

Market Rasen Racecourse stages four important Listed races during the year, two on Prelude Day in September and two on Ladies’ Day in July.

Ludlow Racecourse, situated in Shropshire, West Midlands, was established on its current site, two miles northwest of Ludlow, in 1729. Originally a Flat racing venue, hurdle races and steeplechases were introduced during the nineteenth century and Ludlow gradually became an exclusively National Hunt course, as it is today. Ludlow retains its Edwardian character but, nowadays, is very much a modern racecourse, staging 16, mainly mid-week, National Hunt fixtures throughout the season.

Course Characteristics

The steeplechase course at Ludlow is sharp, right-handed oval, approximately a mile and a half around, with a run-in of just over a furlong. There are nine, fairly easy, fences per circuit. The hurdle course, which runs around the outside the chase course, is separate in large part and follows a one-mile section of the original Flat course. The hurdle course is more undulating, but generally easier, than the steeplechase course and presents a fair test even for big, long-striding gallopers.

Track Facts

Ludlow racecourse crosses the B4365 at three separate points, so the road must be closed on racedays.

Ludlow Golf Club, which occupies the centre of the racecourse, was founded in 1889.

Ludlow racecourse was used as a US Army camp, housing over 2,000 soldiers, during World War II.

The Jubilee Stand at Ludlow racecourse was built in 2001.

Lingfield Racecourse in Surrey, southeast England, was opened by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, in 1890. Originally a National Hunt venue, Lingfield Racecourse was granted permission to stage Flat racing in 1894 and, today, has the distinction of being a venue for Flat racing, on turf and all-weather, and National Hunt racing. Indeed, when the original Equitrack course opened in 1989, it was the first of its kind in the country; it was replaced with a superior Polytrack surface in 2001. Lingfield Racecourse stages 80 Flat and National Hunt fixtures throughout the year.

Course Characteristics

The turf course at Lingfield consists of seven furlong straight course, which is joined by a sharp, left-handed loop at the half mile marker to create the round course. From the mile and a half start, runners climb to the top of a slight hill before running downhill into the straight, as they do around Tattenham Corner at Epsom. The straight course is downhill, markedly so for the first three furlongs, and is very sharp. The round course on Polytrack is shorter and sharper than the turf course and sprint races are run around two bends, so early pace is all important.

The National Hunt course is left-handed, sharp, undulating triangle, about a mile and half around. There are nine easy fences, or six flights of hurdles, per circuit.

Track Facts

Gordon Richards, later Sir Gordon Richards, had his first ride in public at Lingfield as a 16-year-old in 1920. Richards brought his mount, Clockwork, on the train and walked him to the course from the railway station.

In 1932, Lingfield became the first racecourse to stage Oaks and Derby trials. April The Fifth, winner of the first Derby trial, went on to win the Derby.

The first all-weather meeting at Lingfield took place on October 30 1989.