Sprint Your Way to 4,000 Pounds in Historic New Year Sprint

The New Year Sprint has taken place around New Year's Day annually since 1870. This year's event, the 138th, will be held at Musselburgh Racecourse, 6 miles east of Edinburgh, on Friday 29th December and Saturday 30th December 2006.

The heats of the New Year Sprint, and all rounds of the supporting events, will be held on Friday. The Sprint semi-finals and final will be incorporated into the traditional Christmas National Hunt horse-racing meeting

The first prize of £4000 makes the Sprint by far the richest race in the professional calendar.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay

The Sprint is supported by a series of Open foot-races up to 1600 metres and Youths foot-races up to 800 metres. A 120 yards backmarkers invitation wiil give the crowd further opportunities to see the fastest performers in action.

The promoter is putting up a £5000 bonus for the competitor in the backmarkers event who can beat the World Professional record of 11.14 secs set by the great George McNeill back in 1970.

Although the New Year Sprint has by tradition been a professional event, 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.

For more information: New Year Sprint web site.