With record prize money of over £4 million, the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival looks set to attract the very best of thoroughbreds from Britain, Ireland and continental Europe to the Knavesmire for York’s flagship meeting over four spectacular days of racing action from Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 August. The stellar racing action forms the centrepiece of a meeting brimming with top quality Yorkshire food, the popular Ebor Fashion Lawn and good fellowship. The meeting also represents a chance for racegoers to enjoy the Edwardian Weighing Room, the finishing touch to the £10m Northern End Development project which, over the last two years, has transformed facilities around the parade ring for horses, horsemen and racegoers.

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. Appropriately, the world’s joint highest rated thoroughbred of this season, Postponed, is targeting the prize.

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. County Durham trained, Mecca’s Angel is seeking back to back victories in the sprint race.

Completing the feature race set is Saturday’s Betfred Ebor, as Europe’s richest flat handicap, at £280,000.

From sprinters to stayers, Friday’s Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup over the two miles joins the Group One races as the fourth contest to be part of the British Champions Series, which culminates at the richest day of racing in this country, Qipco British Champions Day on Saturday 15 October. Additionally, winning and placed connections of Thursday’s £85,000 Clipper Logistics Stakes over a mile qualify for the valuable Balmoral Handicap on the championship day hosted for the sport at Ascot. The support of Qipco is prevalent on all four days; with the BCS racemakers in attendance to help guide less experienced visitors around the racecourse and share their knowledge.

Other sporting 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. The latter may be the target for a thoroughbred that has all the right genes, as Fair Eva, the impressive daughter of the mighty Frankel holds an entry.

At £60,000 apiece, 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.

On all four days, stand side racegoers will be able to watch and participate in the Ebor Fashion Lawn without the need to book in advance. The eye-catching, flower-clad catwalk, set in the picturesque surroundings in front of the Edwardian Weighing Room, will offer a touch of “modern vintage”. A panel of judges will cast an expert eye over the preparations and attire before them, ready to decide the winner on each day of the “Best Dressed Racegoer”. As well as prizes like £500 gift vouchers for the likes of Hobbs and French Connection, or a bespoke initial ring from Rebus for “Best Hat, Best Dressed Gent, Best Dressed Child and Best Dressed Couple”. The daily winner on Ladies Day (Thursday 18 August) will also be crowned ‘Best Dressed Festival Racegoer’, and will win a short break for two to the Marriott Hotel in Dubai for the Dubai World Cup.

Expect to see a host of world-class jockeys competing for top honours at York – the field at York is currently led by Frankie Dettori, the man closing in on his 3,000th career success. In a fitting tribute to popular racing journalist, Ray Gilpin, who passed away last year, a special prize will be offered by Sky Bet, for the most successful rider over the twenty-five races of the Ebor Festival.

The global nature of the top quality competition is reflected with the three Group Ones all being part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and the Juddmonte International and Darley Yorkshire Oaks attracting huge bonuses for the winner to go to race in Japan.

There is horsepower of a different nature on display on the Edwardian Weighing Room Lawn as the latest Maserati will be on show courtesy of JCT600.

All races at the Ebor Festival will have speed-tracking equipment attached to runners to allow an instant relay of speed and position information to racegoers on the four giant screens around the course. In addition, the Official Race Times will be displayed as they happen on an Al Basti Equiworld supported digital stopwatch, positioned by the winning post.

Adding a sparkle on Saturday will be the Silver Stars, the parachute display team of the Royal Logistics Corps, who are due to drop in just after lunch, on what it is hoped will be a sunny day.

Broadcast partners Channel 4 Racing, Racing UK, TurfTV and GBI Racing will be covering the action and transmitting the event to over 80 countries around the world. Nick Luck will front the four days of Channel 4 coverage which will include a fascinating “Graham Bell Ski Sunday” style course ride by Group One winning jockey, Paul Mulrennan.

In high summer, the award-winning flowers at York should be at their best and a bespoke arrangement in the welcome lobby of the Ebor Stand will celebrate this festival event.

Away from the track, a brigade of some 80 chefs, backed by a wider raceday team of over two thousand staff, will provide the welcome, services and treats that come with a major sporting event. Seafood will be delivered from the Yorkshire coast every morning including 2,000 crabs, joining Dales lamb and 3,000 homemade beefburgers, Hawes cheeses, 6,000 fresh baked fruit scones and locally made dairy ice cream on the various menus.

Whether it is to show off their fashion or send pictures of the ice sculptures and chocolate fountains in the main restaurants, or simply to capture the feel good factor, racegoers will be able to use the free Wi-Fi service installed at the track by local tech firm, York Data Services.

Those seeking musical entertainment will have their choice, as Yorkshire brass bands perform on the weighing room lawn and Murphy’s Marbles play their own blend of Irish foot stomping, good time tunes. As it has proven popular, up and coming local bands will play on into the evening as racegoers have a chance to enjoy their bottle of Mercier champagne for £33.50.

William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, concluded “The Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival is simply the highlight of our year. With the record investment in prize money, the stellar entries, the popular Northern End Development and all the other initiatives and innovations, this year looks set to be a landmark event of top quality racing action as well as a tremendous social and fashion event. I very much hope racegoers, punters and viewers will enjoy the feast on offer.”