York Racecourse

Under Starters Orders at York

Seventeen days of action are scheduled, a £2.5 million massive track work programme has been completed and the four-day Ebor extravaganza is again the highlight of what is expected to be a special year.

The flagship Juddmonte International is worth £600,000 this year, once again making it the richest race ever staged at York, while there is also a prize fund hike for the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks.

James Brennan, York Racecourse Marketing Manager, said: “We will see the richest ever Juddmonte International.  We have had great support from Darley, and totesport continue to be a great supporter of both the Dante and the Ebor.

“For the first day of the four-day Ebor Festival, the Juddmonte International will be worth £600,000.  The Darley Yorkshire Oaks is £310,000 and in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, our fastest race of the year, there will be £240,000 on offer.

“There are some significant prizes on offer for those feature races.”

The season kicks off on May 13 with the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, a leading fillies’ trial for the Juddmonte Oaks, and it is the turn of the boys the very next day when the Derby pretenders try to stake their claims in the totesport Dante.

The Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup provides a chance for the country’s leading stayers to make their mark and Brennan added that the racecourse team were already champing at the bit to get back to doing what they love.

“It will be nice to get back to issues such as who is going to win the big race and everyone really can’t wait to get back under way,” he said.  “The back end of July last year is an awful long time since we did what we love – which is racing.”

The season ahead will also see the 50th running of the John Smith’s Cup on July 11 – an association with the Tadcaster-based brewery which continues to be the longest sponsorship in British Flat racing.

“They are obviously very proud of it in Tadcaster”, Brennan added.  We are going to have some fun.  There will be a celebration of cask ales.”

With the four-day Ebor Festival taking centre stage, Brenna said the early signs were looking very positive for August, despite the turmoil of the recession.

He explained: “Already Ladies’ Day is sold out in a couple of the restaurants.

“There is also the first chance for Ebor racing to be held on Friday.  That was already taking hold, looking at the advance bookings last year, and we hope that will mirror itself.

“The world is a different place than it was last August but we hope we still offer good value.  People maybe looking for a day away from the cares of the world in 2009 will choose to holiday at home and holiday at the races.”

 

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