The New Year Sprint is an open 110m race, with a handicap start, that has taken place around New Year's Day annually since 1870.
The Final takes place at 14.25pm. Here are the fixtures for Musselburge Racecourse on 1st January 2023:
- New Year Sprint (110 metres Open Handicap) First Cross-tie 12:35pm
- New Year Sprint (110 metres Open Handicap) Second Cross-tie 12:40pm
- New Year Sprint (110 metres Open Handicap) Third Cross-tie 12:45pm
- New Year Sprint (110 metres Open Handicap) Fourth Cross-tie 12:50pm
- New Year Sprint (110 metres Open Handicap) Final 14:25pm
This year is the 154th anniversary year, and will see professional and amateur sprinters compete for a £3,500 first prize. The Sprint is part of a series of open, ladies, and youth races taking place over distances of 60 metres up to 4 furlongs (approx 800 metres).
Musselburgh Racecourse, in Musselburgh, 6 miles east of Edinburgh, usually hosts racing of the equestrian variety, but it's also open for this historic event each year.
The first day's events will be run on the 8 lane synthetic running track at the new Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, and the New Year's Sprint Final takes place on New Year's Day itself on the outer horse racing circuit used for flat racing, in front of the Queen's Stand.
Musselburgh racecourse opens for horse-racing at usually 10.45am with the first race in the traditional Christmas National Hunt horse-racing at 12.20pm. In the past, the Sprint has been broadcast as part of ITV's day of racing events.
Prize money
The New Year Sprint is a professional event, but the meeting has been sanctioned by the Scottish Athletic Federation and British Athletics Federation for competition by amateurs, who may keep any prize money won.