York horse racing course info

York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in northern England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August. The course also stages three of the UK's 31 Group One races, the International Stakes, the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks.

On June 14–18, 2005, York Racecourse held Royal Ascot due to Ascot Racecourse being closed for its £185 million redevelopment. The track is situated on the Knavesmire, in the southwest of the City of York and on race days has its own radio station 'York Raceday Radio' (1602 kHz, medium wave) which can be picked up to 10 miles from the course. The track won the Racecourse of the Year title in 2003 and come out on top in The Times newspaper survey of all Britain’s racecourses.

Notable Races Acomb Stakes
The Acomb Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) at York Racecourse during the Ebor Festival meeting in August.It became a Listed race in 1998 and was upgraded to Group 3 status in 2006. The 1999 winner, King's Best, won the following season's Two Thousand Guineas. Other future stars to have run in the Acomb Stakes include Grand Lodge (third in 1993), Pentire (third in 1994) and Araafa (second in 2005)

Dante Stakes
The Dante Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 88 yards (2,092 metres) at York Racecourse in May. It was first run in 1958 and is named after Dante, the Yorkshire-trained winner of the Epsom Derby in 1945. The race is now a leading Derby Trial, with winners often becoming favourite for the big race. The most recent Dante Stakes winner to be victorious at Epsom was Authorized in 2007.

Duke of York Stakes
The Duke of York Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 6 furlongs and 3 yards (1,210 metres) at York Racecourse in May. It was first run in 1968.

Ebor Handicap
The Ebor Handicap is a flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 5 furlongs and 197 yards (2,795 metres) at York Racecourse during the Ebor Festival meeting in August. It was first run in 1843, and is now the most valuable handicap race of its kind in Europe.

Gimcrack Stakes
The Gimcrack Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 6 furlongs and 3 yards (1,210 metres) at York Racecourse during the Ebor Festival meeting in August. It was first run in 1846 and is named after Gimcrack, a popular grey racehorse in the 18th century, none of whose 27 victories was actually at York. It was open to all two-year-olds from 1846 to 1986. The owner of the winning horse in this race is traditionally invited to give a speech at the annual Gimcrack Dinner held at the racecourse in December.

Great Voltigeur Stakes
The Great Voltigeur Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 198 yards (2,394 metres) at York Racecourse during the Ebor Festival meeting in August. It was first run in 1950 as the Voltigeur Stakes (the word 'Great' was added in 1957), and was named after Voltigeur, the Yorkshire trained winner of the 1850 Derby and St Leger. The Great Voltigeur Stakes is now a leading trial for the St Leger. Thirteen winners of the Great Voltigeur have gone on to win the St Leger; Premonition (1953), Alcide (1958), St. Paddy (1960), Hethersett (1962), Ragusa (1963), Indiana (1964), Athens Wood (1971), Bustino (1974), Reference Point, Bob's Return, Milan, Rule Of Law and Lucarno.

International Stakes
The International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 88 yards (2,092 metres) at York Racecourse during the Ebor Festival meeting in August. It was first run in 1972. The race is now commonly referred to as the Juddmonte International.

Lonsdale Cup
The Lonsdale Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 7 furlongs and 198 yards (3,199 metres) at York Racecourse during the Ebor Festival meeting in August. The race has been run as a Group 2 since 2004, prior to which it was a Group 3. This status had first been granted to the race in 1998, before which it had been classed as a Listed race. There was also a slight alteration to the name in 2004 - previously it had been called the Lonsdale Stakes.

Lowther Stakes
The Lowther Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 6 furlongs and 3 yards (1,210 metres) at York Racecourse during the Ebor Festival meeting in August. It was first run at York in 1946 in honour of Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale. A previous race known as the Lowther Stakes was run at Newmarket Racecourse in the 19th century over a distance of 1½ miles.

Middleton Stakes
The Middleton Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for four-year-old and above thoroughbred fillies and mares. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 88 yards (2,092 metres) at York Racecourse in May. It was first given Group 3 status in 2004, having been run as a Listed race since 1997. Prior to this the Middleton Stakes was a conditions race restricted to three-year-old fillies, with the notable victory in 1993 of Dayflower, whose trainer Satish Seemar became the first Dubai based trainer to win a race in Europe.

Musidora Stakes
The Musidora Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 88 yards (2,092 metres) at York Racecourse in May. It was first run in 1961 and is named in honour of the racehorse Musidora, winner of the 1,000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks in 1949. The race is now a recognised trial for the Oaks, and five fillies have won both races – Noblesse, Bireme, Diminuendo, Snow Bride and Reams Of Verse. The 2006 runner-up Alexandrova is the latest participant to win the Oaks.

Nunthorpe Stakes
The Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for two-year-old and above thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres) at York Racecourse during the Ebor Festival meeting in August. In its present form the race dates back to 1922, although before then it had been a lower grade selling race since 1903.
Strensall Stakes

The Strensall Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 208 yards (1,800 metres) at York Racecourse in late August or early September. It was promoted to Group 3 status in 2003, having earlier been classed as a Listed race.

Summer Stakes
The Summer Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old and above thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres) at York Racecourse in July. It was first run in 1996 as a Listed race and upgraded to Group 3 in 2003.

Yorkshire Cup
The Yorkshire Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for four-year-old and above thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 5 furlongs and 197 yards (2,795 metres) at York Racecourse in May.

Yorkshire Oaks
The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old and above thoroughbred fillies and mares. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres) at York Racecourse during the Ebor Festival meeting in August. It was first run in 1849 and was restricted to three-year-old fillies only until 1990.

York Stakes
The York Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 88 yards (2,092 metres) at York Racecourse in late July. The race was introduced in 2006 to replace the discontinued Scottish Derby, and is seen as a possible trial race for the Group 1 International Stakes in mid August, which takes place over the same course and distance.

Course Details Flat Course: Left-handed, U-shaped course, flat and fair, ideal for powerful galloper. 2m with run-in of almost 5f. Races of 7f start on a spur. Can become very testing. Effect Of Draw: Low to middle numbers best on the straight track, especially when soft going prevails.


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Contact York race course

York Racecourse
York
YO23 1EX

Tel: 01904 620911
Fax: 01904 611071

e-mail: enquiries@yorkracecourse.co.uk
Internet site: http://www.yorkracecourse.co.uk/

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