Members of the Scottish Rugby Team have confirmed they will be attending one of Edinburgh’s most prestigious racedays, taking full advantage of the opportunity to enjoy some downtime before the new season kicks off.
The committed players, including Ross Ford, Sean Lamont, Duncan Weir and Captain Greig Laidlaw, will soak up the thrill of a full race day at the Edinburgh Cup this Saturday 4 June before jetting off to Japan on their Summer Tour 2016.
The Tour will see the Scottish Rugby Team take on Japan in both Tokyo and Toyota City as they seek to back up a strong performance against them in the World Cup.
Sponsored by Edinburgh Gin, the race day is increasingly renowned as the biggest ‘foodie’ event in the Scottish racing calendar, where fans can also sample a wide selection of food and cocktails.
It will also be a day of high-quality racing, with a total prize-fund of £145,000 that attracts some of the country’s best trainers, jockeys and horses.
And the party atmosphere will also be fuelled by a guest list including BBC Radio One DJ Greg James, who will perform a set at the after racing party and Garry Spence, DJ from Capital Scotland, who will also be on stage, while popular Edinburgh band The Flavours will be performing live.
Greig Laidlaw, Captain of the Scottish Rugby Team, said: “Edinburgh Cup will be a fantastic opportunity for myself and some of the Scottish rugby team to wind down after a great season, and we’re delighted to come along and support Musselburgh Racecourse.
“We’re looking forward to hanging up our rugby boots and continuing the celebrations off the pitch by experiencing one of Scotland’s social highlights in the racing calendar.
“Horse racing isn’t our expertise but we will certainly give it a try!”
Aisling Johnston, Marketing Manager at Musselburgh Racecourse, said: “We’re thrilled to have some of the Scottish rugby boys joining us for our Edinburgh Cup raceday.
“It is a superb summer day out, offering ladies and gents the chance to dress up and enjoy an excellent day of racing, sample a variety of cocktails and a locally-sourced Scottish themed menu and attend an exclusive after party.
“Edinburgh Cup is growing in size and status every year, and we’ve really pulled out all the stops this year, so we hope the players will have a fantastic day.”
At this Saturday’s Edinburgh Cup raceday, a host of fantastic food producers will be on site offering a wide mix of cuisines, often featuring local produce freshly prepared to the highest of standards.
The racecourse’s award winning catering partners, Heritage Portfolio, will provide a fine dining option, while racegoers will also be able to get their hands on the likes of Edinburgh’s famed Well-Hung and Tender burgers.
An extensive menu of gin cocktails especially designed by sponsors Edinburgh Gin will be a highlight of the day. Last year more than 14,000 measures of gin were sold, from Gin and Tonics, to Gimlets and Gin Cups. This year more creative cocktail options will also be available.
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 also a draw for both families and corporate clients.
As part of the year-long celebration of the historic racecourse’s 200th anniversary, there will also be a special Bi-Centenary Celebration Raceday on Friday, July 8th.
For more information on the full list of fixtures, including a number of seasonal highlights, and to book tickets visit: www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk
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