'The Ebor' is how many racing fans refer to the Yorkshire Ebor Festival in August
Voted UK Racecourse of the Year by both the Racegoers Club and Racehorse Owners Association, and with £4.7m prize money on offer, more than double that of 2020, York Racecourse is all set to host the ‘Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival’ in mid / late August this year.
Featuring flagship Group 1 contest, the £1m Juddmonte International, dubbed the Longines World’s Best Race, plus the £400,000 Darley Yorkshire Oaks, and the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe, the 2021 Ebor Festival will be one very exciting spectacle.
With 3 Group 1 races worth £1.8 million + the £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor Stakes Handicap on the final day, and no race worth less than £70,000 in prize money, the quality of the racing at this festival will take some beating.
The Ebor - Past & Present
While the award-winning floral displays always turn heads at this superb summer racing festival, it’s the horses that take centre stage. The roll of honour for top horses winning the Group 1 Juddmonte International (part of the Qipco British Champions Series) in recent years, include Sea the Stars (half-brother to Galileo) in 2009, and two of Galileo’s sons, Frankel in 2012 and Australia in 2014.
With 7 races on the card every day, none worth less than £70,000 to the winner, there’s lots to enhoy at this popular festival. While not a Group 1 race, the Ebor Stakes Handicap on Day-4, is nevertheless a very popular with the crowd. Won by Sea Pigeon, (by Derby winner Sea Bird II) and ridden to victory by Jonjo O’Neil in 1979, the race was won by the grey Fujaira Prince in 2020.
4-Days of superb horseracing at York in August
York Knavesmire Racecourse
Horses first raced at York 2000 years ago during the days of the Emperor Severus in Roman times. While the exact location of the racecourse changed over the years, the horseshoe shaped Knavesmire course has been its final location since it was first used in 1731.
Some 360,000 racegoers are expected to visit the reigning “Northern Racecourse of the Year”, which introduced the Gimcrack Stakes in 1846 and now has a stand named after the iconic race.
Today the prestigious Group One Juddmonte International on Day 1 of The Ebor, is York’s richest race and the highlight of the Festival, the contest was independently ranked as the best race in Great Britain by the International.
York Racecourse got its first grandstand in 1754. New stands were erected in 1890 with improvements in 1962, and a new 5-tier grandstand in 1965. In 1989 the Melrose Stand opened, followed by the award-winning Knavesmire Stand in 1996. 2003 saw the opening of the Ebor Stand including the exclusive Annual Badgeholders Nunthorpe Suite.
In recent years York Racecourse, as well as hosting many spectacular York Races, has also played host to Royal Ascot at York in 2005 and The Ladbrokes St Leger in 2006.
Stands and Hospitality at York Racecourse
York has a selection of hospitality packages, restaurants and private boxes to choose from on race-day. Enjoy the luxury of fine dining combined with the spectacle of the racing in one of three restaurants include the Voltigeur Restaurant, the Ebor Restaurant and the Parade Ring Restaurant.
Private boxes with balconies overlooking the finishing straight include the Knavesmire Stand Box, the Melrose Stand Box and the Ebor Stand box, each with a choice of package options classified as Silks, Classic and Winners packages.
The Gimcrack Suite, The Committee Room, The Melrose Club Lounge and the Premier Racing Lounge provide even more choice for racegoers at The Ebor
More options include the County Stand, Grandstand & Paddock, Clocktower Enclosure all with plenty of choices of places to eat & drink and watch the all-important racing.
Essential Details
Address: | York Racecourse, Knavesmire Road, York, YO23 1EX |
Tel: | 01904 620911 |
Website: | https://www.yorkracecourse.co.uk/ |
Racing News
Get all the the festival latest news, features, guides, tips and more with Festivals of Racing.