EBOR FESTIVAL TO HOLD ITS RICHEST EVER RACE

With record prize money of over £2.3 million, including the richest race ever held on the Knavesmire – The Juddmonte International Stakes, now worth £500,000 – along with the upgrading of The Symphony Acomb Stakes to Group status and the most valuable race in Britian for two-year-olds to compliment the continent's richest handicap contest, all provide additional lustre to one of the most famous of meetings in the racing calendar, York's three-day Ebor Festival (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, August 22, 23 & 24).
The competition off the track on Thursday will be to win the Marriott Hotel Best Dressed Lady Racegoer title and so enjoy a luxury short break to Dubai
On all three days the live sport will be followed by live singing as York welcomes back Community singing, this time with a Yorkshire twist as the traditional favourites will be led by the Yorkshire United Co Op brass band with BBC radio's James Watt serving as flag -waver-in-chief.
Add a touch of magic with a return visit by John Danbury, the magician who shows the mystic way to pick a winner and all looks set fair.

The seven-race programme on all three days begins at 1-45 p.m., with the gates opening on each day at 11-00 a.m.

The action on Tuesday consists of:
• The Sportsman Racing Stakes This Handicap contest over a mile and a half should attract a good turnout and is sure to be a very competitive start to the proceedings. It is supported by new sponsors to Ebor, The Sportsman – the daily sports betting newspaper.
• The Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup Firmly established as a leading Group 2 race for top stayers over two miles; won the recent past by horses such as Persian Punch, Celeric, Double Eclipse, Royal Rebel and Boreas. Last year's winner, Millenary is a former Ladbrokes St.Leger hero. The race will use a new starting point for its two mile trip, meaning that the stalls will open in front of the stands and the horses use the nw bend before returning to the Winning Post.
• The Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes This Group 2 race should provide significant clues regarding the final Classic of the season – next month's Ladbrokes St. Leger Stakes which is being staged at York while it's usual home, Doncaster, is being redeveloped. The connections of the leading contenders for the Classic, such as Sixties Icon, Septimus and the Yorkshire-trained Soapy Danger will see this race as a major stepping-stone to big race glory.

• The Juddmonte International Stakes This famous Group 1 race has a deserved global reputation and with an increased total prize fund of £500,000 it becomes the richest race ever held at York. True equine greats have competed in this race over the years and last year's contest produced a memorable encounter living up to its international name when Electrocutionist – then trained in Italy – pipped the Japanese-trained colt, Zenno Rob Roy.

• The Symphony Group Acomb Stakes This race for precocious two-year-olds has been elevated to Group 3 status and has acquired a new sponsor in the Leeds-based Symphony Group, national suppliers of kitchens and bathrooms, who have supported York's October meeting. This race has produced some outstanding juvenile winners, such as Rule Of Law, King's Best and Auction House, while the last two winners – Palace Episode and Elliots World – were both trained in Yorkshire.

• The Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Stakes Juveniles also take part in this Nursery Handicap, won last year by the Mark Johnston-trained Prince Of Light., who went on to win in Group company.

• The Patrington Haven Leisure Park Handicap Stakes The maximum field of 20 runners took part in this sprint contest over six furlongs last year; a fast a furious conclusion to the opening day.

Wednesday is totesport Ebor Day, with the action and drama guaranteed………

• The Motability Supported By Royal & SunAlliance Handicap Stakes Another competitive handicap, this time over the extended mile and a quarter, which once again draws attention to the charity, Motability. The Richard Fahey-ridden Realism was the impressive winner last season.

• The Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes Two-year-old colts with Classic aspirations will compete in one of Britain's best-known races. First held on the Knavesmire in 1846, this Group 2 contest has enjoyed the support of Scottish Equitable plc since 1985. Tradition once demanded that the winning owner provided 'six dozen of champagne to the Gimcrack Club Dinner'. Many years have passed since the successful owner fulfilled that obligation; however, he or she is still invited to provide a keynote speech at the Dinner in December. Hambleton trainer, Kevin Ryan supplied last year's winner, Amadeus Wolf and the colt went on to clinch the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

• The totesport Ebor Heritage Handicap One of Europe's richest handicap races with a total prize fund of £200,000. This famous contest over a mile and three-quarters, one of the most coveted prizes in the sport, was first held at York in 1843 and has been sponsored since 1976 by the Tote. Last year's winner, Sergeant Cecil created racing history by becoming the first horse to win those three famous stayers' handicaps in the same season – The John Smith's Northumberland Plate, The totesport Ebor and The totesport Cesarewitch. Glistening, Greenwich Meantime and Soulacriox are prominent in the ante-post betting lists for this race.

• The Darley Yorkshire Oaks This Group 1 race for top-class fillies boasts increased prize money of £275,000 and is sure to attract the stars from across the Classic generations. Punctilious was last year's winner, while previous heroines include Islington and Ramruma.

• The Julia Graves Roses Stakes A Listed contest for juvenile sprinters over the minimum distance of five furlongs which was won last year by Taberet, trained at Scarcroft near Wetherby by Richard Whitaker.

• The newitts.com Convivial Maiden Stakes Two-year-olds also take part in this race over six furlongs, supported for the fourth year by long-established York-based sports outfitters, Newitts.

• The Eventmasters Stakes Three-year-old sprinters are in the spotlight in this handicap race sponsored for the fifth year by Eventmasters, the Edgbaston-based sports event management company.

Thursday is 'Ladies Day' with colour and drama all the way……

• The £300,000 St. Leger Yearling Stakes The most valuable race in Britain for two-year-olds has a temporary home at York while Doncaster racecourse undergoes a massive facelift. It's the ninth running of this race for juveniles which were graduates of last year's St. Leger Yearling Sales at Doncaster Bloodstock Sales. Watch out for the big cheque presentation to the winning connections!

• The Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes A Group 2 race for leading two-year-old fillies won last year by the impressive Flashy Wings welcomes back for the third year as sponsors, Jaguar Cars.

• The VC Bet Nunthorpe Stakes A big opportunity for Europe's leading sprinters to grab a prestigious Group 1 prize. That flying filly, La Cucaracha scorched across the Knavesmire to win last year and she is primed for another attempt in the colours of her owner/breeder, Yorkshireman, Guy Reed. The Irish-trained speedster, Dandy Man is also a likely participant after winning at The Curragh last month.

• The Addleshaw Goddard Stakes This valuable Handicap race over one mile usually attracts a good turnout and is supported for the first time by the leading law firm of Addleshaw Goddard.

• The SKF City of York Stakes A Listed race over seven furlongs which has attained a new sponsor in SKF (UK) Ltd. – specialists in rolling bearings – who are extending their support of racing at York.

• The European Breeders Fund Galtres Stakes Another Listed race, this time for fillies and mares - one of nine races supported by the EBF at York this season. Irish trainer, John Oxx has produced the last two winners of this race in Kastoria and Tarakala, both ridden by Mick Kinane.

• The Brilliant Media Melrose Stakes The Festival comes to a resounding conclusion with stayers being put through their paces in this well-known race named after James Melrose, a former chairman of the York Race Committee for 50 years (1875 to 1925). The race also welcomes new sponsors to York in the Leeds-based media specialists, Brilliant Media.

As usual on 'Ladies Day', there will be a competition to find the 'Best-Dressed Lady Racegoers', with the winner receiving a short break holiday to Dubai, taking in an evening at Nad al Sheba racecourse and staying at the luxury Courtyard Hotel, part of the Marriott Hotel Group. The competition includes additional prizes provided by CoCu Corset Couture of Leeds.

The winning jockey in the feature races will 'weigh in' on the special scales in the winners' enclosure, as part of York's on-going initiative to demonstrate the workings of the sport to the public.

Four large screens will assist racegoers in following all of the action, while the 'Punters Panel' – part of the totesport Partnership Initiative with the racecourse – takes place prior to racing on all three days from the winners' podium, while on Wednesday and Thursday, magician John Danbury returns to the racecourse to amaze racegoers before racing in the winners' enclosure.

After racing each day, the United Co-op Band will lead the community singing, with very much a Yorkshire theme, assisted by local radio presenter, James Watt.

The daily betting newspaper, The Sportsman, who sponsor the opening race of the meeting, also support the award for the Festival's leading jockey.

A fairground will operate in the centre of the course, and the major raceday Traffic Plan, used at this meeting last year, will again be in operation. Vehicles should approach the racecourse from the A64 and follow the signs.

Another momentous meeting at York is about to start.
AUGUST FESTIVAL - ORDER OF RUNNING 2006

Tuesday 22nd August
Gates open 11.00 am
Channel 4 or Racing UK Race Time Race Title Age Prize money Distance
Channel 4 1.45 pm The Sportsman Racing Stakes – Handicap 81-100 3+ £30,000 One & a half miles

Channel 4 2.15 pm Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup – Group 2 3+ £125,000 Two miles

Channel 4 2.50 pm Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes – Group 2 3c&g £135,000 One & a half miles

Channel 4 3.25 pm Juddmonte International Stakes – Group 1 3+ £500,000 One & a quarter miles

Racing UK 4 pm Symphony Group Acomb Stakes – Group 3 2 £40,000 Seven furlongs

Racing UK 4.35 pm Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Stakes – Nursery Handicap 2 £25,000 Six furlongs

Racing UK 5.10pm Patrington Haven Leisure Park Handicap Stakes
81-100 3+ £25,000 Six furlongs

Wednesday 23rd August
Gates open 11.00 am
Channel 4 or Racing UK Race Time Race Title Age Prize money Distance
Channel 4 1.45 pm Motability Royal & SunAlliance Handicap Stakes
86-105 3+ £30,000 One & a quarter miles

Channel 4 2.15 pm Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes – Group 2 2c&g £130,000 Six furlongs

Channel 4 2.50 pm totesport Ebor – Heritage Handicap 3+ £200,000 One & three quarter miles

Channel 4 3.25pm Darley Yorkshire Oaks – Group 1 3+f&m £275,000 One & a half miles

Racing UK 4 pm The Julia Graves Roses Stakes – Listed 2 £30,000 Five furlongs

Racing UK 4.35 pm newitts.com Convivial Maiden Stakes 2 £25,000 Six furlongs

Racing UK 5.10 pm Eventmasters Stakes – Handicap 81-100 3 £25,000 Five furlongs

Thursday 24th August
Gates open 11.00 am
Channel 4 or Racing UK Race Time Race Title Age Prize money Distance
Channel 4 1.45 pm The £300,000 St Leger Yearling Stakes 2 £300,000 Six furlongs

Channel 4 2.15 pm Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes – Group 2 2f £85,000 Six furlongs

Channel 4 2.50 pm VC Bet Nunthorpe Stakes – Group 1 2+ £220,000 Five furlongs

Channel 4 3.25 pm Addleshaw Goddard Stakes (Handicap) – 86-105 3+ £40,000 One mile

Racing UK 4 pm SKF City of York Stakes – Listed 3+ £35,000 Seven furlongs

Racing UK 4.35 pm European Breeders Fund Galtres Stakes – Listed 3+f&m £35,000 One & a half miles

Racing UK 5.10 pm Brilliant Media Melrose Handicap Stakes – 81-100 3 £25,000 One & three quarter miles