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Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York set to attract the best

For more information on the Best Dressed Lady competition please click here.

WELCOME TO YORKSHIRE EBOR FESTIVAL AT YORK SET TO ATTRACT THE BEST

The Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival is an occasion of superlatives; our oldest, richest, fastest, and most famous races provide the sporting excellence that combine with fashion and fun over four fabulous days in August (Tuesday 17th, Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th and Friday 20th).

With prize money moving ahead to a new record level, nearly £2.8 million, is on offer at the mid summer highlight of the flat racing calendar. It includes the richest race ever held on the Knavesmire – The Juddmonte International Stakes, now worth £650,000. For the first time the Festival has a title sponsor in. Welcome to Yorkshire, the body responsible for the promotion of tourism in the region.

The feature races of each day look set to offer mouth watering duels of the highest quality – Tuesday is likely to see Twice Over and Rip van Winkle, two horses that are already dual Group 1 winners in a field that may well also have this year’s Royal Ascot middle distance champion, Byword.. Wednesday will again see the nation’s racing punters trying to solve the richest flat handicap in Europe; will Dirar fresh from the Galway Hurdle keep the trophy in Ireland after the success of Sesanta last year, or will the in form partnership of jockey Richard Hughes and trainer Richard Hannon combine to see Martyr triumph? Thursday is shaping up to mean the challenge between the superstar fillies, Dar Re Mi owned by Lady Lloyd-Webber looks to defend her Darley Yorkshire Oaks title from the winners of the last two Epsom Oaks in the shape of Lady Bamford’s Sariska and Snow Fairy from the Ed Dunlop yard as well as Midday, a Group One winner at Goodwood and Santa Anita. The week is scheduled to wrap up with leading sprinters Fleeting Spirit and Kingsgate Native taking on the County Tipperary trained flying machine, Starspangledbanner as well as fellow Royal Ascot sprint star, Equiano. The Festival looks set to be full of showdowns and may well provide the defining moments of the season.

Many informed observers consider Tuesday, the first day of the Festival to be their favourite raceday of the year in Britain. The action on the track includes the first of three Group One contests; the £650,000 Juddmonte International, a contest ranked in the top ten middle distance contests in the world and last year graced by Sea The Stars, considered by many as the best thoroughbred for a generation. For many racegoers this is the day when they catch up with friends and look forward to a week of shared enjoyment. Form followers will watch the sportingbet.com Great Voltigeur with particular interest as this York Group Two has already produced thirteen winners of the final Classic of the year, the St Leger.

The Wednesday of Ebor week seems has been about the feature race, the totesport Ebor, since it was first run way back in the 1840s. The excitement that this famous handicap generates has been a constant over that time; Mudawin a winner at over 100-1, Sergeant Cecil, a victor who became horse of the year, Purple Moon who landed a nationwide gamble and then headed down under and very nearly became the first British trained winner of the Melbourne Cup - and that’s just in the last five years! The Luca Cumani trained Purple Moon may bid for repeat glory; the last time this feat was achieved was back in 1923 when Flint Jack became the only horse to land a second win. The same horse may opt for chasing black type by running in the Group Two Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup earlier the same afternoon. The buzz about the racecourse on Ebor day is infectious as groups of friends enjoy, relax and hopefully unravel the puzzle to find the winner of the totesport Ebor.

On all four days there will be a real sense of fashion, plenty of hats, designer outfits and tailored suits mixed with those sporting more relaxed summer clothing, however for many there remains an extra special feel about Thursday as it is Ladies day, complete with the chance to win a trip to Dubai courtesy of Marriott hotels as well as a stunning hat from Yvette Jelfs. The sporting action attracts the best fillies as the Group One Darley Yorkshire Oaks, Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes and European Breeders Fund Galtres Stakes are highly treasured titles for female horses.

Friday is a recent addition to this famous occasion and offers the chance to race into the weekend, perhaps enjoying a short break in historic York or the wider white rose county. The fastest race of the season, the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes often decides the accolade of leading sprinter and is a blur of colour that needs to be seen and heard to be believed.

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.

Five 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 four days from the winners’ podium.

The battle to be the Sky Bet Leading Rider of the Festival is sure to be keenly contested, as Sky Bet extend their sponsorship at York to include three major races as part of Friday’s programme of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival. Watch out for the yellow armband that will be carried by the man heading for the prize and helping raise money for the Injured Jockeys’ Fund.

There are 24 top-class races, with the action on each day starting at 1-45 p.m. (gates open on each day at 11-00 a.m.). The award winning Yorkshire Coop Brass, jazz bands and Irish Band, the Murphy’s Marbles will add music to the festival atmosphere and perform before, during and after racing each day.

With this being the biggest meeting of the year at York, it will have a major say in deciding the leading trainer and jockey of the season on the Knavesmire. Malton trainer, Richard Fahey is attempting to retain the mantle of top trainer at York for a fifth season, and with 10 winners so far this term; is comfortably ahead of his nearest rivals in the quest for The Minster Jaguar Trophy. While Paul Hanagan leads the way, with 8 winners, in a close fought competition to land the jockeys’ prize sponsored by Living North magazine. The Malton based rider is 3 ahead at York of Ryan Moore his nearest rival for the national title.

Winners and losers on the track, in the best dressed lady competition, or from the wider sporting world can be celebrated and commiserated in Mercier Champagne at £26 a bottle or perhaps a pint of hand pulled cask ale at £3.30 in the Theakston Bar Tasty food treats include the innovative Yorkshire Tapas in the new Melrose Club Lounge, Whitby crab or a 100% British beefburger.

The wide range of local food on offer is being celebrated through the artistic talents of Catlin Jones, a set designer for the Royal Opera House who will create a mural using some of the fresh, local ingredients from the various kitchens. To find out more visit the Weighing Room Lawn.

The wide ranging support of Welcome to Yorkshire, the body responsible for developing tourism in the region, can be seen in another work of art on display. A horse sculpture created from willow stands proud on the Weighing Room Lawn; created by Whitby artist, Emma Stothard, it captures the beauty of Madam Macie, a thoroughbred who ran at York in June.

The start of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York is at hand.

The action on race by race consists of:-

Tuesday August 17th:

• The Symphony Group Stakes This valuable contest is a only in its second year at the Festival over the unusual sprint distance of five and a half furlongs; the winner may be aimed at the Portland Stakes at the Ladbrokes St. Leger Festival or possibly make a rapid return for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday at this meeting. It is supported by Yorkshire-based bathroom and kitchen specialists, The Symphony Group.

• The sportingbet.com Acomb Stakes This high quality Group 3 contest for precocious two-year-olds is one of three races on the day backed by Sportingbet. Past winners include horses of the calibre of Rule of Law, King’s Best, Auction House and Saratoga Springs.

• The sportingbet.com Great Voltigeur Stakes This Group 2 race is the richest of its type in the UK and should provide significant clues regarding the final Classic of the season – next month’s Ladbrokes St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster. That was the case as recently as 2007, when Lucarno won this famous race before going on to Classic glory. In the last decade, Rule of Law and Milan have been amongst the 13 colts to follow this route.

• The Juddmonte International Stakes This famous Group 1 race has a deserved ranking in the top ten of races worldwide, with an increased total prize fund of £650,000 it becomes the richest race ever held at York. True equine greats have competed in this race over the years and in recent years. Last year Sea the Stars added his name to a list that includes the 2007 Derby champion, Authorized or the 1992 classic winner and champion, Rodrigo de Triano.

• The sportingbet.com Stakes Juveniles also take part in this Nursery Handicap; watch out for the winner in the big autumn contests.

• The Patrington Haven Leisure Park Handicap Stakes Run over the same distance as the feature race of the day, one and a quarter miles, this valuable Handicap contest brings the opening day comes to a competitive conclusion and receives the backing of the East Coast holiday venue, Patrington Haven Leisure Park.

Wednesday August 18th:

• The Racing UK Handicap Stakes Another fascinating handicap, this time over the extended mile and a half. It attracts well known performers from this category in the past such as Smokey Oakey a thoroughbred owned by York-born actress, Dame Judi Dench.

• The Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup The joint richest Group 2 ‘Cup’ race for top stayers. Run over two miles expect to see horses that competed in races such as the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup or the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot as they have another opportunity of long-distance glory. Some great stayers have won this race over the years, such as Sergeant Cecil, Millenary, Bollin Eric, Persian Punch and Celeric.

• The Irish Thoroughbred Marketing 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 enjoys the support of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for the fourth year and Aidan O’Brien’s Irish raiders will be eyeing the record prize fund of £140,000; which makes it the richest Group 2 for juveniles in Britain. 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. Lord Grimthorpe rose to the challenge after the success of Showcasing in 2009.

• The totesport Ebor Heritage Handicap Europe’s richest flat handicap races with a total prize fund of £210,000 – maintaining a record sum. 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. In 2007, Purple Moon, added to Newmarket trainer Luca Cumani’s tremendous record in this race, and went agonisingly close to winning another of the most famous races in the world, when finishing runner-up in the Melbourne Cup in Australia, the horse may return this year.

• The Julia Graves Roses Stakes A Listed contest for juvenile sprinters over the minimum distance of five furlongs, victory in this race often heralds an impressive career.

• The EBF Fillies’ Stakes It is the turn of fillies and mares in this handicap contest over nine furlongs.

Thursday August 19th:

• The DBS Premier Yearling Stakes One of the most valuable race in Britain for two-year-olds, offering juveniles that were graduates of last year’s St. Leger Yearling Sales at Doncaster Bloodstock Sales a big reward. Watch out for the giant cheque (in all senses of the word) presentation to the winning connections!

• The Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes The joint richest Group 2 race for leading two-year-old fillies won last year by the impressive Lady of the Desert for trainer Brian Meehan. This race welcomes back as sponsors, Jaguar Cars. Several hundred horsepower will also be on display on the weighing room lawn as the team showcase Jaguar XJ and award-winning XF saloon.

• The Addleshaw Goddard Stakes This valuable Heritage Handicap race over one mile is sure to attract a good turnout and is supported for the fifth time by the leading law firm of Addleshaw Goddard.

• The Darley Yorkshire Oaks This Group 1 race for top flight fillies continues to be the richest Group 1 open to fillies & mares of all ages with £310,000 on offer. It is sure to attract the stars from across the generations; a clash between the English and Irish Oaks winners is a regular occurrence. Last year’s star, Dar Re Mi is set to defend the title.

• The European Breeders’ Fund Galtres Stakes Another Listed race, this time for fillies and mares, one of 15 contests at York generously supported by The European Breeders’ Fund.

• The eventmasters.co.uk 25th anniversary Stakes Three-year-old sprinters are catered for in this sprint race that will bring the day to a flying conclusion; sponsored for the ninth year by Eventmasters, the Birmingham-based corporate hospitality specialists.

Friday August 20th:

• The Sky Bet Melrose Stakes The famous Heritage Handicap – named after a former chairman of York Racecourse, has seen its prize money increase since the inception of a four day Festival and now stands at £65,000. Sometimes called the ‘three-year-olds’ Ebor, it’s a contest that should contain plenty of classy contenders.

• The Sky Bet Strensall Stakes Another boost in prize money for a race since it was added to the Festival from a September slot, this £85,000 Group 3 contest over nine furlongs is likely to attract horses from the leading stables of Aidan O’Brien, Sir Michael Stoute and Godolphin; the latter having previously won back to back runnings with Echo Of Light. ? Another richest race for the card; this time as the richest Group 3 run on the turf.

• The Sky Bet City Of York Stakes Leeds based betting brand Sky Bet continue their wide ranging support of York by backing this popular Listed race over seven furlongs.

• The Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes Europe’s leading sprinters will be on display as they attempt to win one of the top Group 1 races in the calendar. Sponsored once again by the renowned Irish breeding operation, former winner, Kingsgate Native, is prominent in the ante-post betting market. Some great sprinters have won this race in the past; expect another rip-roaring renewal.

• The Racing Post Convivial Maiden Stakes The richest Maiden race in the UK calendar, two-year-olds face the starter in this contest over seven furlongs chasing £25,000.

• The Stowe Family Law Stakes The Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival concludes with another recent addition to the programme, the joint longest of the meeting, a valuable Handicap contest for stayers over two miles. Backed by regular sponsors at York, Stowe family Law the Harrogate and Cheshire based family law specialists, the distance means the bend created for Royal Ascot at York will be used