York Racecourse concluded its 2015 season today after a hugely busy year which has seen a strong attendance, as over 360,000 racegoers (+9%) witnessed 115 races over 17 fabulous days of racing action, with an increased number of runners as 1,465 thoroughbreds competed for a record of £6.7m prize money.

In other excitements this year, the racecourse raised a record sum of over £420,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and other charities at its June Charity fixture and welcomed a record evening crowd for any UK racecourse when 36,479 racing and music lovers enjoyed a concert by Sir Tom Jones.

The transformation of the northern end of the racecourse was completed with the opening, to critical and popular acclaim, of the Northern End Development.  The development was winner of the Civic Trust backed York Design Awards and the new Moët Pavilion won Best Bar on a UK Racecourse in the Merbury National Catering Awards.  The reconfiguration of the pre-parade ring and new weighing room has improved both the viewing facilities for racegoers and the working day for jockeys and officials.  It was officially opened by the new Patron of York Racecourse, HRH The Duke of York, on the first day of the 2015 season. 

The opening day of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival saw Lady Cecil unveil the wonderful Sir Henry Cecil Gates that stand close by the first ever equine statue at York, a bronze of the mighty Frankel.  County Stand racegoers explored the new Moët Pavilion, Roof Terrace, John Carr Terrace and the Edwardian Weighing Room.  Improved facilities meant they could sample stone baked pizza and freshly griddled beef burgers underneath the new ETFE canopy on the John Carr Terrace.

In what has been another memorable year for performances on the track, the highlight must be quality of racing at York’s two flagship festivals.  No fewer than four subsequent Classic winners competed at York in May and the 2015 renewal of the Betfred Dante Stakes must rate as one of the highest quality stagings of recent seasons, led home by horse of the year, Golden Horn. 

The Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival saw an outstanding four days of racing action with a record number of runners, the first ever runners from the US - both ridden by “Hall of Fame” American based jockeys - and a memorable week for Yorkshireman in exile William Haggas who claimed five of the 25 races.  Locally-based jockey, Paul Mulrennan, guided Mecca’s Angel into the Winners Enclosure to a rapturous and emotional welcome after winning a first Group One for both his rider and northern trainer, Michael Dods, in the Coolmore Nunthorpe.

The total attendance for the year of 360,743 included thirteen days that displayed a year on year increase, as the final day saw 22,056 racegoers (up 9% year on year) watch Shared Equity land the Coral Sprint Trophy for trainer Jedd O’Keeffe.  This bumper crowd meant the seasonal total finished 28,178 (9%) ahead of the last year’s number.  That means 2015 is the second best attended York season since modern records began, only eclipsed by the 2011 total which would have included racegoers aged 16 and 17 who are now granted free admission, so are no longer included in the attendance totals.

Macmillan Charity Raceday in June is the largest charity raceday in British racing as well as Macmillan’s largest single fundraising event.  Through the collective efforts of many individuals, organisations and the 27,216 crowd, a fantastic sum in excess of £420,000 was raised, being a record annual amount and taking the cumulative total over the past 46 years to more than £6.6 million.

The fiercely contested Charles Clinkard Top Trainer at York Trophy was successfully defended, with David O’Meara now having taken the title for three consecutive seasons, finishing the year with twelve winners.

A new name appears on the Living North Champion Jockey Trophy as local rider Phillip Makin posted an impressive eleven winners to land his first title.

William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at York Racecourse said, “What an incredible season 2015 has been.  The quality of racing action at York has been tremendous and we are delighted that our continued investment in the track, facilities and prize money has delivered such compelling and competitive racing action.  Racegoers have seen some of the best horses and jockeys in the world compete on the Knavesmire with many of the standout horses of the season having been part of the York story.  We have been delighted with the transformation of the northern end of the racecourse and the reaction of racegoers and horsemen to the improved facilities, many people have been kind enough to comment on the unique atmosphere on course that this investment has helped to create.  We are grateful for the ongoing support of owners and horsemen for bringing their fabulous horses to York.  We are proud to be part of a Yorkshire racing community which goes from strength to strength and the success of Yorkshire handlers, both here at York and further afield, is a tremendous reflection of the health of flat racing in the County.” 

“I must pay tribute to the team at York who have delivered such a memorable and successful season, from the permanent York Racecourse and York Racecourse Hospitality teams based at the racecourse who work so hard throughout the year to continue to innovate and improve the experience for visitors to the Knavesmire, to the raceday team who help provide the award-winning service and welcome to our racegoers.  This year, the efforts of the design and construction team who worked so hard to deliver our fantastic new facilities must be acknowledged.  I was delighted that our groundstaff won Flat Racecourse Grounds Team of the Year, that our events team won Visit York Conference Venue of the Year award and that my invaluable assistant, Jane Richardson, was voted Members’ Member PA of the Year in York by her peers.  Some 2,000 people have given their time, talent and energy to making every York raceday so special.

“We remain hugely appreciative of the support of racegoers, boxholders, hospitality guests and sponsors; so very much hope they have enjoyed their own racedays at York in 2015 and will both look back on many happy memories, as well as look forward to many more!”

Head of Sponsorship and Marketing at York Racecourse, James Brennan, noted, “The turn out this year is a remarkable achievement.  Competition for leisure spending is intense and we continue to strive to offer quality racing, value for money and a great day out.  I am pleased our programme of entertainment, investment and innovation has been so well received.  The UK’s two largest attended live concerts after racing, by Sir Tom Jones and Scouting For Girls, the relocated Ebor Fashion Lawn which attracted a record level of entrants seeking to win some fabulous prizes, a Family Sunday with more children and animals than ever before and the Countryside Raceday in October, were all exciting aspects which combined with top-class racing, service and facilities to provide memorable entertainment. The 2015 attendance and ongoing commitment of the course to buying fresh, local produce further support the independent economic study that concluded the racecourse was worth £58 million to the York economy per annum.”

Summarising the year, Lord Grimthorpe, Chairman of York Racecourse, concluded, “It has been an honour and privilege to be involved with such an exciting, enjoyable and successful season and I would like to thank everyone connected to York for their attendance, enthusiasm and support.  Work will continue during the winter, as we strive to further develop and so improve the experience of racing at York. I am looking forward to Wednesday 11 May 2016.”