First Minister, Alex Salmond, officially opened the new stable yard complex at Musselburgh Racecourse on Friday 18 June prior to the start of the sell-out Ladies Day race meeting.

In addition to the stables a new stable staff restaurant and bar, ground staff workshops and secure fenced compound has been created. New access roads, car parking, horsebox parking and horse loading ramps, external lighting and a new horse walk from the new stable yard to the existing parade ring have also been designed to complement and enhance the existing buildings within the racecourse campus.

The main stable building was designed as a single storey, self contained quadrangle complex incorporating four single storey inner stable blocks and two overflow stable blocks located within the ground care yard. The stable entrance building will provide restaurant, bar, toilet and shower facilities for use by the visiting stable staff.

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The stable block is part of a new £4.5m construction project at the racecourse which will also include community facilities including meeting rooms and café, offices and equipment stores for ground maintenance staff at the Musselburgh Old Course and council departments and a new purpose-built base for East Lothian Council's Outdoor Education Service.

East Lothian Provost Sheena Richardson who is also the Chair of the Musselburgh Joint Racing Committee (MJRC) said:"Back in 1995 the MJRC began a building development programme to establish the racecourse as a first class leisure venue and horseracing facility. Over the intervening years a new hospitality stand has been created, major refurbishments of the grandstand and restaurant and bar facilities carried out and a new entrance pavilion constructed.

"More than £4.3m has been invested so far and today's official opening of the stable block by the First Minister, Alex Salmond marks the completion of the first stage of a joint race course and community project that further enhances the facility as a leading leisure and tourism venue."

First Minister Alex Salmond commented:"I'm delighted to officially open the new stable yard complex. It is another fantastic addition to the facilities at Musselburgh Racecourse, which continues to go from strength to strength. Scotland's racing industry is estimated to generate in the region of £213m each year for the Scottish economy and is responsible for around 3,800 jobs. The sport's popularity has grown considerably over the last decade and that is in large part down to the sort of drive and vision that is so evident at Musselburgh."

(GK)