York Racecourse
Encyclopedia
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
track in the southwest of the city of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap
Ebor Handicap
The Ebor Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
, which is run during the Ebor Festival
Ebor Festival
The Ebor Festival is a four day race meeting held at York Racecourse in Great Britain during the month of August. The 2010 festival took place between Tuesday 17 August and Friday 20 August....
meeting in August. The course also stages three of the UK's 31 Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
races, the International Stakes
International Stakes
The International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
, the Nunthorpe Stakes
Nunthorpe Stakes
The Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
and the Yorkshire Oaks
Yorkshire Oaks
The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
.
On June 14–18 2005, York Racecourse held Royal Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
due to Ascot Racecourse being closed for its £185 million redevelopment.
The track is situated on the Knavesmire
Knavesmire
The Knavesmire is one of a number of large, marshy undeveloped areas within the city of York in North Yorkshire, England which are collectively known as Strays...
, in the southwest of the City of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
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 came out on top in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
newspaper survey of all Britain’s racecourses.
Notable races
- Acomb StakesAcomb StakesThe Acomb Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at York over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
- Dante StakesDante StakesThe Dante Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
- Duke of York StakesDuke of York StakesThe Duke of York Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
- Ebor HandicapEbor HandicapThe Ebor Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
- Gimcrack StakesGimcrack StakesThe Gimcrack Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
- Great Voltigeur StakesGreat Voltigeur StakesThe Great Voltigeur Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
- International StakesInternational StakesThe International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
- Lonsdale CupLonsdale CupThe Lonsdale Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 2 miles and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
- Lowther StakesLowther StakesThe Lowther Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
- Middleton StakesMiddleton StakesThe Middleton Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged four years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.For a period the Middleton Stakes was an...
- Musidora StakesMusidora StakesThe Musidora Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
- Nunthorpe StakesNunthorpe StakesThe Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
- Strensall StakesStrensall StakesThe Strensall Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 208 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
- Summer StakesSummer StakesThe Summer Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
- Yorkshire CupYorkshire Cup (horse race)The Yorkshire Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
- Yorkshire OaksYorkshire OaksThe Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
- York StakesYork StakesThe York Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....