MUSSELBURGH Racecourse is gearing up for a potential sell-out New Year's Day celebration.

The East Lothian track is launching its nine-fixture winter jumps season this week with back-to-back races on Thursday and Friday.

Ticket sales for the traditional Virgin Bet New Year’s Day meeting have left racecourse boss Bill Farnsworth hopeful of a 6,500 sell-out.

He said: "We expect it will be another sell-out, so the message is, if you want to welcome in 2025 in the most exciting fashion and plan to celebrate New Year with us at Musselburgh, buy your tickets in advance."

The New Year’s Day meeting will feature two races broadcast on ITV1, with highlights including the £40,000 Virgin Bet Auld Reekie Handicap Chase and the £30,000 Virgin Bet Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle.

For full fixture details and to book tickets, visit Musselburgh Racecourse's website. 

The February favourite, the two-day bet365 Scottish Cheltenham Trials Weekend on February 1 and 2, is the "premier attraction" of Musselburgh’s jumps season.

This event serves as a key staging post for leading trainers aiming to compete at the famous Cheltenham and Aintree festivals in the spring.

Musselburgh has hosted many promising prospects over the years, with top trainers from across the country making the trip north.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has suggested that the £100,000 bet365 Scottish Champion Chase, currently a Class 2 handicap chase, could be upgraded to a Class 1 event if it continues to perform well.

Mr Farnsworth added: "It is one of the season’s best-quality two-and-a-half0mile handicap chases but it has to perform at that level for three consecutive years.

"It would be great to have that sitting alongside our other Grade 1 race over that weekend, the bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle, and we will be doing our best over the next few seasons to make that a reality."

The Farmers Race Day on Sunday, February 16, and the Go North Finals Race Day on Friday, March 21, which features four finals with £30,000 prize money for each, round off the National Hunt programme at Musselburgh.

Gates open for Thursday's racing at 11am and for Friday's at 10.30am. Visit musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk/fixtures for tickets and more information.