York Racecourse is celebrating after winning the Tourism Event of the Year category at the prestigious White Rose Awards 2015.

The Juddmonte International, independently ranked earlier in 2015 as the world’s highest rated race, was at the heart of an entry that reflected the success of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival, the showcase of the season on the Knavesmire.

Presented at a Gala Dinner in Leeds attended by celebrity guest, Gary Barlow, along with over a thousand participants in the region’s tourism industry, the night celebrated the social and economic benefits that tourism and sport bring to the county of Yorkshire.

This latest award follows similar recognition for the new Moët Pavilion and wider Northern End Development at York in various awards including, “Best Bar on a UK Racecourse”, in the York Design Awards and in landing a Gold Award in the appropriate Yorkshire in Bloom category.

Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course, William Derby said, “We are  honoured to have won Tourism Event of the Year for our flagship Ebor Festival at the White Rose Awards in a category brimming with the some of the best attractions and events in Yorkshire.  The award in part reflects the tremendous news earlier in the year that the Juddmonte International had been ranked by the IFHA as the best race in the world and we are so thrilled that the White Rose Award judges have rewarded this achievement. A near record of over 360,000 racegoers enjoyed racing at York this season and we have been delighted with their reaction to the new Northern End Development which was completed this year.  I am so proud of the efforts of the whole York Racecourse team to have had their talents and hard work recognised with these tremendous Awards.”