As the first stage of entries for the Group 2 races at the 2016 Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival are published, the track has confirmed a record investment in prize money of over £4million for the four day centrepiece of the Knavesmire season (Wednesday 17 August to Saturday 20 August).

The increase of £260,000 is spread over fifteen races; with the feature contest on each of the days receiving a boost, as well as the prize money threshold for all races rising by a fifth to £60,000. It marks another step in York’s support for its flagship race programme which has seen prize money increase by 50% over the last five years.

Britain’s highest rated race, according to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, the Group 1 Juddmonte International, will become the richest race ever run at York, with £900,000 on offer to the horse seeking to follow such superstars as Frankel or Sea the Stars into the Winner’s Enclosure on the opening day.

Boosts in prize money of £50,000 to both the £200,000 Group 2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Stakes (2m) and recently upgraded £150,000 Sky Bet City of York Stakes (7f) – now the richest Group 3 race run in Britain – support the enhanced Group 1 contests of Thursday and Friday respectively.

The Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Thursday 18) and the Coolmore Nunthorpe (Friday 19) have both seen increases to reach their richest ever renewals at £340,000. Completing the feature race set is Saturday’s Betfred Ebor, as Europe’s richest flat handicap, at £280,000.

Other highlights include the £220,000 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes which remains Britain’s richest juvenile Group 2 colts race and the £200,000 Sky Bet Lowther which is the richest equivalent for fillies.

At £60,000 apiece, each of the Betway Nursery Handicap, the European Breeders’ Fund Convivial, and the Betfred Apprentice Stakes are the richest nursery handicap, maiden and apprentice race respectively in Britain.

First stage entries for the £160,000 Betway Great Voltigeur number forty-nine which represents a five year high and nine ahead of the initial number of last year, which culminated in a pulsating finish between Storm the Stars and Bondi Beach, a duo that went on to be joint favourites for the St Leger.

York is proud to stage nineteen races with the backing of the European Breeders’ Fund including three at this feature Festival.