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York Racecourse

Coordinates: 53°56′19″N 1°5′51″W / 53.93861°N 1.09750°W / 53.93861; -1.09750
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York Racecourse
York Racecourse logo
LocationYork, North Yorkshire
Owned byYork Racecourse Knavesmire LLP
Screened onRacing UK
Course typeFlat
Notable racesDante Stakes, Ebor Handicap, International Stakes, Nunthorpe Stakes
Official website
A view of the Ebor stand at York Racecourse

York Racecourse is a horse racing venue in York, North Yorkshire, England. It is the third biggest racecourse in Britain in terms of total prize money offered, and second behind Ascot in prize money offered per meeting.[1] It attracts around 350,000 racegoers per year[2] and stages three of the UK's 31 Group One races – the Juddmonte International Stakes, the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks.

Location

The course is located in the south-west of the city, next to the former Terry's of York factory, The Chocolate Works. It is situated on an expanse of ground which has been known since pre-medieval times as the Knavesmire, from the Anglo-Saxon "knave" meaning a man of low standing, and "mire" meaning a swampy pasture for cattle.[3] For this reason, the racecourse is still sometimes referred to as "The Knavesmire". The Knavesmire was originally common pasture, belonging to the city.[4] It was also the scene of the hanging of Dick Turpin in 1739.[5]

History

Racing in York dates back to at least Roman times, with some archaeological evidence[6] suggesting that there may have been equine activities that could have included forms of racing on the site of the Knavesmire as early as neolithic times. The city corporation is known to have given its support to the sport from 1530 and, in 1607, racing is known to have taken place on the frozen River Ouse, between Micklegate Tower and Skeldergate Postern.[7] A famous yearly race for a golden bell was taking place in the nearby Forest of Galtres in 1590.[8]

There is some uncertainty over when racing first arrived at the current site. The official stance of York Racecourse itself is that racing was first held on the Knavesmire when York's race meeting was moved in 1730 from a previous site at Clifton Ings which was prone to flooding.[2] This is the line taken by the early racing historian, Pick, who maintained that the first race run over the Knavesmire course was the King's Guineas of 1731.[3] There are multiple attestations to this previous racecourse at Clifton Ings, where racing can be traced back at least as far as 1709 and where, in 1714, "such was the concourse of nobility and gentry that attended York races that one hundred and fifty coaches were at one time on the course".[9] The uncertainty lies in the period 1709–1731 and on this, early sources are confusing.

Orton's Turf Annals of York and Doncaster, which records the results of races at this time, has them taking place at "Clifton and Rawcliffe Ings" in the period 1709 and 1731[10] which would support the official view. However, Sheahan and Whellan, 19th century York historians, have racing taking place in both places in 1709 – "a regular race meeting on Clifton Ings" and, in the same year, a collection taking place among the citizens to purchase five plates as prizes for a meeting on the Knavesmire. Drake's Eboracum, another early history, when talking of York's races says, "Clifton-ings was for several years the place of trial; but upon a misunderstanding with the owner of that ground, or great part of it, the race was altered; and Knavesmire, a common pasture belonging to the city, was pitched upon for that purpose."[11] Since, Drake was writing in 1736, it is deemed unlikely that he would write in such a manner if the move to Knavesmire had been so recent.[12] There is also some slight confusion arising from the running of Royal Cups at nearby Black Hambleton.[13]

The Saunders & Co. History, using all these sources concludes "the races were held annually on both courses – at Clifton Ings previous to and for some years subsequent to the year 1709, and at Knavesmire at and from that date; and that most probably in or about the year 1731, the races were done away with at the former place and transferred to the latter."[14]

What is clear, whenever races were first run on the Knavesmire, is that York was the first centre after Newmarket to formulate a structured race programme, starting in 1751 with the Great Subscription Purses.[15]

The Knavesmire course, as the name suggests, was often very swampy, and in 1776, heavy rains meant that horses had to race for about fifty yards up to their knees in water.[16]

By the 19th century there were two main meetings at York – the Spring Meeting in May and another in August. These were supplemented by the Yorkshire Union Hunt Meeting in October, and a steeplechase meeting in April.

The second day of the 2014 Tour de France started from the racecourse.

Facilities

In 1754, at the instigation of the Marquess of Rockingham the first grandstand was built at a cost of £1,250 by the architect John Carr.[17] New stands were erected in 1890, incorporating much of the original building. The late 20th century saw progressive development of the facilities. A new five-tier grandstand was opened in 1965, the Melrose Stand was opened in 1989 and this was quickly followed by the award-winning Knavesmire Stand, with additional conference facilities in 1996. 2003 saw the opening of the Ebor Stand.[2] The course now has a spectator capacity of 60,000.

Layout

In the 18th century the racecourse was horseshoe in shape and was "judged to be the best race[course] in England for seeing the diversion."[4] In 2005 the track was extended from the end of the home straight to make a full round course, this was to host the 2 m 4 f Gold Cup for the Royal meeting which was moved from Ascot to York that year.

Important meetings

York's most important meeting is the Ebor Festival held annually in August. The feature of this meeting is the Ebor Handicap, one of Europe's premier handicap races.

The Juddmonte International meeting is another significant date in York's racing calendar, home as it is to the Juddmonte International Stakes. The 2012 renewal of this race, won by Frankel was the second highest rated race of the year in international ratings.[5]

In 2005, York Racecourse acted as a replacement host to the Royal Ascot meeting, due to its usual home at Ascot Racecourse being closed for a £185 million redevelopment. It also hosted the St Leger in 2006.[2]

York also has its own radio station 'York Raceday Radio' (1602 kHz, medium wave) which can be received up to 10 miles from the course.

Awards

The track won the Racecourse of the Year title in 1997[18] and 2003[citation needed] and came out on top in The Times newspaper survey of all Britain's racecourses.[citation needed]

Records

Notable races

Month DOW Race Name Type Grade Distance Age/Sex
May Wednesday Duke of York Stakes Flat Group 2 6f 3yo +
May Wednesday Musidora Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 2f 88y 3yo only f
May Thursday Middleton Stakes Flat Group 2 1m 2f 88y 4yo + f
May Thursday Dante Stakes Flat Group 2 1m 2f 88y 3yo only
May Friday Yorkshire Cup Flat Group 2 1m 6f 4yo +
May Saturday Grand Cup Flat Listed 1m 6f 4yo +
July Friday Summer Stakes Flat Group 3 6f 3yo + f
July Saturday John Smith's Cup Flat Handicap 1m 2f 88y 3yo +
July Saturday York Stakes Flat Group 2 1m 2f 88y 3yo +
August Thursday Galtres Stakes Flat Listed 1m 4f 3yo + f
August Friday City of York Stakes Flat Listed 7f 3yo +
August Saturday Roses Stakes Flat Listed 5f 2yo only
August Wednesday International Stakes Flat Group 1 1m 2f 88y 3yo +
August Wednesday Great Voltigeur Stakes Flat Group 2 1m 4f 3yo only
August Wednesday Acomb Stakes Flat Group 3 7f 2yo only
August Thursday Lowther Stakes Flat Group 2 6f 2yo only f
August Thursday Yorkshire Oaks Flat Group 1 1m 4f 3yo + f
August Friday Lonsdale Cup Flat Group 2 2m 88y 3yo +
August Friday Strensall Stakes Flat Group 3 1m 208y 3yo +
August Friday Nunthorpe Stakes Flat Group 1 5f 2yo +
August Saturday Gimcrack Stakes Flat Group 2 6f 2yo only
August Saturday Ebor Handicap Flat Handicap 1m 6f 3yo +
September Sunday Garrowby Stakes Flat Listed 6f 3yo +

References

  1. ^ "Racecourse League Tables". Racehorse Owners Association. 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "History". York Racecourse. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b Saunders 1863, p. 124.
  4. ^ a b Drake 1736, p. 141.
  5. ^ a b c d "10 things you didn't know about us". York Racecourse. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  6. ^ York Archaeological Trust
  7. ^ Drake 1736, p. 133.
  8. ^ Camden 1722, p. 913.
  9. ^ Whyte 1840, p. 389.
  10. ^ Saunders 1863, p. 125.
  11. ^ Drake 1736, p. 241.
  12. ^ Saunders 1863, p. 127.
  13. ^ Saunders 1863, p. 128.
  14. ^ Saunders 1863, p. 129.
  15. ^ Whyte 1840, p. 400.
  16. ^ Saunders 1863, p. 131.
  17. ^ Saunders 1863, p. 131-132.
  18. ^ West 2000, p. 7.

Bibliography

53°56′19″N 1°5′51″W / 53.93861°N 1.09750°W / 53.93861; -1.09750

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