Guide to York Ebor

Alongside the 25 top class races, the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival (Wednesday 21 August–Saturday 24 August), at York Racecourse will host a fantastic festival of fashion, food, friendship and fun. Allison GrahamAllison is the Publisher of Eclipse Magazine. She loves going to the Races and is learning to bet (despite being officially the worst

The oldest, richest, fastest, and most famous races of the York season provide sporting excellence combined with fashion and fun over four fabulous days, including a weekend running of the Betfred Ebor for the first time on a Saturday, 20th August 2011. Over £2.7 million in prize money is on offer. Allison GrahamAllison is the Publisher

For many racegoers the opening day of the Ebor festival is the day when they catch up with friends and look forward to a week of shared enjoyment. Form-followers will watch the sportingbet.com Great Voltigeur with particular interest, as this York Group Two has already produced thirteen winners of the final Classic of the year,

On all four days there will be a real sense of fashion, plenty of hats and designer suits mixed with those sporting more relaxed summer clothing, however for many there remains an extra special feel about Thursday as it is Ladies’ Day, complete with the chance to win a trip to Dubai courtesy of Marriott

Friday offers the chance to race into the weekend, perhaps enjoying a short break in historic York or the wider White Rose county. The fastest race of the season, the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, often decides the accolade of leading sprinter. Last year’s race saw Sole Power take the title as a surprise 100–1 winner and

Saturday means the Betfred Ebor, the oldest and probably most famous race at York. As Europe’s richest flat handicap the excitement that it generates has been constant since the 1840s. The buzz about the racecourse on Ebor day is infectious, as groups of friends enjoy, relax and hopefully unravel the puzzle to find the winner.