Musselburgh Racecourse has highlighted its “commitment” to working with local communities.

Bosses said that, in the last year, the visitor attraction and its staff have been engaged in a wide range of activities, sponsorships and partnerships with charities and local businesses.

Themed race days which partner with local businesses – like the Luca Ice Cream Family Race Day in July – were “a platform” to work with sports clubs and charities and to introduce families to the “thrill” of horse racing.

At this year’s event, Musselburgh Windsor FC offered a free football skill session for children and were able to showcase the club’s 70-year-old connection to the Honest Toun.

East Lothian Courier: Offiicals of Musselburgh Athletic Football Club as guests at Musselburgh RacecourseOffiicals of Musselburgh Athletic Football Club as guests at Musselburgh Racecourse

At the same race day, children enjoyed more than 500 free pony rides courtesy of a local equestrian yard Tower Farm Riding Stables and 1,200 free ice creams were handed out in association with Luca’s.

The racecourse also teamed up with home builders Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes to offer free admission tickets to new homeowners.

Aisling Johnston, racecourse commercial manager, said: “Musselburgh has a strong sense of community and we want to support the ethos of looking out for each other by providing opportunities for local clubs and charities, and to highlight the important contribution they make to the town as a great place to live, work and thrive.”

East Lothian Courier: The official party from the Musselburgh Festival visit Musselburgh RacecourseThe official party from the Musselburgh Festival visit Musselburgh Racecourse

Another event saw racecourse staff participate in the British Racing Community Day when they collected litter around the Musselburgh Lagoons, and racecourse staff helped with the testing of affordable cooked meal kits on behalf of East Lothian Foodbank to share with local families.

The racecourse said it was able to raise the profile of groups like Musselburgh Windsor and Musselburgh Athletic FC and events such as the East Coast Harbour Race by providing free space in the race day programmes, naming races after the organisations and complimentary tv advertising.