Call for new sponsor to put a bigger shine on Edinburgh Cup

In AN unprecedented move for a Scottish racecourse, Musselburgh is this week taking the highly unusual step of advertising to find a sponsor for its biggest flat race, the Edinburgh Cup. Run at Musselburgh on Derby Day, it is Scotland's third richest race behind only the Ayr Gold Cup and Scottish Grand National in terms of prize money.

It has been sponsored superbly by the Tote, but the present agreement runs out with next Saturday's running of the race.

Musselburgh racecourse manager, Bill Farnsworth, has made clear his ambition is to take the 80,000 race up to the 100,000 mark, but with all the uncertainty over the future of the Tote, the nationalised bookie has not been able to commit to spending any cash on the race in future years.

Farnsworth believes that with Musselburgh being Channel 4's premier meeting on Saturday, the course will never have a better chance of showing off its attractions to a potential major sponsor, hence the advertisement in this weekend's Racing Post.

The conditions of the 1m 4f race make it a perfect consolation prize for top three-year-olds that are just below the level of Derby entrant. It is a handicap for horses rated 0-105, worth 50,000 to the winner - just the sort of puzzle that intrigues trainers. That was shown last year when it pulled in top class entries from the UK's leading stables, producing a classy winner in William Haggis-trained Harris Tweed that went on to win Listed races at Chester and Newmarket.

Farnsworth said: "We are delighted the Tote saw the value in supporting the Edinburgh Cup and we are looking for a partnership to continue the race sponsorship in 2012 and beyond, which can help realise our ambitions of making this a 100,000 race.

"As the second richest Flat race of the Scottish season, it pulls in entries from all the top stables and has created a lot of interest in the industry. With Channel 4's continued backing we think it is a very attractive proposition for a major bookmaker chain or similar high-profile business.

"We can't sit on our hands, we have to be innovative. If an advert generates interest in this premium race and we secure a three-year agreement then it will be well worth it."

Meanwhile, the course is looking forward to a bumper day's racing on Saturday with the Derby showing on all screens. The Edinburgh Cup is the main feature, on a day when racing is firmly in the public spotlight.