A Guide to York Race Course

A Guide To York Race Course

A bit of trivia – the site of York racecourse was also the site of  the hanging of highwayman Dick Turpin in 1739.

These days it is Britains third largest racecourse in terms of total prize money offered and attracts around 350,000 racegoers per year. York hosts three of the United Kingdoms Group1 races.

The Juddmonte International Stakes is open to horses aged three years and older and is raced over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards every August.

The Nunthorpe Stakes are also raced in August over 5 furlongs. It is open to horses aged two years or older.

The Yorkshire Oaks is open to fillies and mares aged three or over. Again it is raced in August over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 188 yards.

All three races are part of the Ebor Festival which is a four day race meeting.

The course was originally horseshoe shaped  and extended in 2005 to complete the circuit. Due to the York Ring Road being built, the original spur for straight sprints had to be shortened and so a new one was built at the opposite end of the course to facilitate 7 furlong sprints.

 The course is left handed and flat. It is a fair track, ideal for long striding horses and measures 2 miles in length.

Bullet Points

• Left handed track
• Fair for galloping
• Flat
• Long 5 furlong run in to the finish