York Racecourse concluded its 2024 season on Saturday after a busy, positive, year which witnessed some of the best horses and jockeys in the world competing over 17 racedays of world-class racing action.

A record investment by the York Race Committee of £11.2m million (+£700k on 2023) was rewarded with both a tremendous year on the track and a record number of horses racing at York across the season.  A total of 1,532 horses competed for the 117 races equating to a record average field size of 13.1, likely to be among the highest in British flat racing.  

York racegoers have witnessed some of the very best racehorses and jockeys in the world competing at York which have gone on to further glory elsewhere.  Whether it was from a memorable hour on just the second day of the season back in May when Bluestocking and Economics won the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton and Dante Stakes respectively, prior to landing the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Irish Champion Stakes. Or perhaps, Bradsell making it back-to-back Group One sprints for Archie Watson’s yard by winning both the Coolmore Nunthorpe and Flying Five. The likes of Economics, Mill Stream, Calandagan or Al Nayyir carry strong Knavesmire runs into QIPCO British Champions Day next weekend. Everyone hopes to see York form taken to the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar - notably through superstar City of Troy, now rated the highest turf racehorse in the world.

A final day crowd of 21,045  (+4% on 2023) demonstrates the appetite for the combination of top-class sport in world-class facilities, presented by a welcoming team. Following on from the highest number of school visits on racedays earlier in the season, as part of the Racing to School initiative, Saturday’s attendance included  5,500 university students as part of the ongoing initiative to introduce the next generation of racegoers. 

Total annual attendance in 2024 was 258,045, but with one fewer fixture than the 18 racedays staged last year.  The like for like decrease represents a 7% decline which has been most keenly felt in the Clocktower (picnic)  Enclosure. 

The four fantastic days of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival included the opening of the Bustardthorpe Development by Her Majesty The Queen on Sky Bet Ebor Day.  This multi-million-pound investment in the southern end of the racecourse significantly improves the raceday facilities for stands side racegoers and is understood to be the most sustainable racecourse development ever undertaken.  These latest improvements to racegoer facilities, for all stands side racegoers to access and enjoy, include the Roberto Pavilion which provides a fast-serve bar, a fish & chip shop and a cocktail/Pimms bar, as well as Tote & William Hill outlets, The Churchill Tyres Lawn and Canopy as a great spot to relax and enjoy the food outlets, plus the improved Theakston Bar & dedicated Guinness Bar that flank it, a state-of-the-art William Hill betting shop has reopened, with a new block of toilets.  The commitment of York Racecourse to be Net Zero by 2040 is set out in its environmental sustainability strategy, Green Knavesmire 300. In keeping with this commitment, a host of environmental sustainability features have been embedded into the Bustardthorpe Development; a living roof, rainwater harvesting and solar panels, being examples.

York has an extensive community and charitable programme headed up by Macmillan Charity Raceday held every June, which added a staggering £563,000 to take the cumulative amount raised to over £11m ,cementing its position as the biggest charity raceday in British racing and Macmillan’s biggest single fundraising event.  In addition to this, York has important partnerships with racing charities Racing Welfare and New Beginnings with, of course, our award-winning equine ambassador, Goldream who visited more schools, hospices and racedays in his role than ever before.  In addition, the track has three local community partnerships with Brainkind, Blueberry Academy and Clifton Green School, activity that includes visits, shared expertise and financial support.  The success for Magical Zoe in the Sky Bet Ebor for Henry De Bromhead meant that Next Door But One CIC  (a not-for-profit drama group in York) were the winning charity in the Sky Bet Ebor Community Sweepstake, receiving a donation of £20,000.

Showing the variety of its customer offer, York again played host to the biggest racing+music concerts in the sport, with Kaiser Chiefs and S Club giving upbeat performances alongside high-quality sport at the July Music Showcase.

Racegoer experiences now include the 360-degree selfie camera for those Insta. moments, as well as trips to the starts, tours of the weighing room, two welcome bands each day, a Selfie Trail, tribute artists, family attractions and a Countryside Market.

Andrew Balding was crowned as the Charles Clinkard York Top Trainer for the first time, adding another winner on the last day, to take his tally to ten, so keeping Ralph Beckett and three Yorkshire handlers, David O’Meara, Kevin Ryan, Karl Burke at bay. The team at Park House can enjoy the £2,500 prize as well as Christmas Party for forty in December.

A wonderful perpetual Skeeping bronze will also grace the mantelpiece of jockey Oisin Murphy, after the conclusion of the season-long contest to be top rider at York saw him win the Living North-sponsored contest, with nine victories. The Newmarket-based rider very generously donated the £2,500 cash element of his prize to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Head gardener Zac Rafferty helped secure an RHS Yorkshire in Bloom Gold award for his floral displays, with the wider Grounds Team already winners of the Racecourse Association Award as Flat Racecourse Team of the Year.

William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at York Racecourse said, “What an amazing season of racing action we have enjoyed at York in 2024. Record prize money and our facilities and fantastic team have attracted some of the best horses in the world to the Knavesmire for us all to enjoy.  Racegoers at York and those watching have enjoyed seeing this year’s star performers including Bluestocking, Economics, Bradsell and the world’s top ranked turf racehorse, City Of Troy.  To attract a record number of horses to York including international runners from Australia, Japan, France and The Czech Republic is a tribute to the vision of the York Race Committee to invest £11.2m in prize money, as well as to the hard work of all the team including the award-winning grounds team. We are very grateful for the wonderful support of connections, near and far,  in bringing their fabulous horses to race at York, for us all to enjoy.

“The successful delivery of the Bustardthorpe Development has transformed facilities for racegoers at the southern end of the racecourse.  What an honour it was to have our Royal Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, to formally open this area on Sky Bet Ebor Day.  I am so proud of the design, contractors and our own team who delivered this multi-million-pound improvement in facilities in just 9 months.  This important development is central to our Green Knavesmire 300 commitment to the environment and we think is the most environmentally sustainable development on a British Racecourse.

“The 2024 season has once again been characterised by both the tremendous performances we have witnessed on the track and the unstinting support of racegoers, connections and the wider team.  The York Race Committee and I are hugely grateful and appreciative of the wonderful support everyone has shown to York.”. 

“It will be another busy winter; however, we very much look forward to racing returning to York on 14 May 2025.”