York Celebrates a new Top Quality Race......
Monday January 16 2006
YORK RACECOURSE CELEBRATES A NEW TOP QUALITY RACE
York Racecourse is celebrating after it was announced today that the Knavesmire would stage another top quality race in 2006.
It’s a contest aimed at top-flight middle distance horses with prize money of £100,000 on offer. The race will be run over the distance of one and a quarter miles as part of the popular Music Showcase Day on Saturday July 29 and will be shown live on Channel Four.
The race has been granted the prestigious Group Two status by the European Pattern Committee making it one of the top 50 Flat races nationwide. It becomes the eighth race on the Knavesmire to reach this level.
Commenting on the news, William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, said “we’re delighted to be able to add another quality race to a day in late July that has gone from strength to strength. We were already looking forward to the Skybet Dash and the return of top tribute band, Killer Queen, and today’s exciting news means we are set for even more tremendous entertainment.”
York will now host races that boast the important “Pattern” accreditation that means top quality competitors on 11 of its 15 days.
In further good news for followers of the sport in York, the Symphony Group Acomb Stakes is being upgraded to Group Three level meaning that the Ebor Festival (August 22,23,24) now has eight races at this grade or higher.
Subsequent Classic winners King’s Best and Rule of Law have won this race in recent years and the upgrade recognises the star quality of its winners. William Derby concludes, “ the Ebor Festival is our crown jewel so its wonderful to be able to further boost the quality of racing on the Tuesday meaning that this day alone will offer connections £880,000 in prize money hopefully creating a wonderful day for spectators”.
-Ends-
For further information, please contact: James Brennan, Head of Marketing and Sponsorship at York Racecourse, on 01904 620911, mobile 07812 961140 (e-mail: j_brennan@yorkracecourse.co.uk)
Notes To Editors
The full calendar of York Pattern races including those in the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at York is listed below.
To book tickets for any of these days please call 01904 620911
York Pattern Races 2006
Race Pattern Status Date Run
Blue Square Stakes Listed Handicap Wednesday 17th May
Tattersalls Musidora Stakes Group 3 Wednesday 17th May
Hearthstead Homes Duke of York Stakes Group 2 Wednesday 17th May
totepool Middleton Stakes Group 3 Thursday 18th May
totesport Dante Stakes Group 2 Thursday 18th May
Bank of Scotland Corporate Hambleton Stakes Listed Handicap Thursday 18th May
Langleys Solicitors EBF Marygate Stakes Listed Friday 19th May
Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup Group 2 Friday 19th May
Micheal Seely Memorial Fillies Stakes Listed Friday 19th May
Cuisine de France Summer Stakes Group 3 Friday 14th July
John Smiths Extra Smooth Silver Cup Listed Handicap Saturday 15th July
NEW RACE Group 2 Saturday 29th July
Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Stakes Group 2 Tuesday 22nd August
Juddmonte International Stakes Group 1 Tuesday 22nd August
Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes Group 2 Tuesday 22nd August
Symphony Group Acomb Stakes Group 3 Tuesday 22nd August
Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks Group 1 Wednesday 23rd August
Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes Group 2 Wednesday 23rd August
Costcutter Roses Stakes Listed Wednesday 23rd August
EBF Galtres Stakes Listed Thursday 24th August
Lowther Stakes Group 2 Thursday 24th August
VC Bet Nunthorpe Stakes Group 1 Thursday 24th August
Jaguar Cars City of York Stakes Listed Thursday 24th August
Strensall Stakes Group 3 Saturday 9th September
Newton Investment Management Rockingham Stakes Listed Saturday 7th October
Champagne Stakes Group 2 Friday 8th September
Park Hill Stakes Group 2 Friday 8th September
GNER Doncaster Cup Group 2 Friday 8th September
May Hill Stakes Group 2 Friday 8th September
Scarbrough Stakes Listed Friday 8th September
Sceptre Stakes Listed Friday 8th September
Flying Childers Stakes Group 2 Saturday 9th September
GNER Park Stakes Group 2 Saturday 9th September
Ladbrokes St Leger Group 1 Saturday 9th September
