Horse Racing: Yorkshire Ebor Festival 2010
A wonderful 4 day programme is scheduled from the 17th to the 20th of August. It will bring together the most famous races and the best players of the game, and is predicted to attract a great number of fans. York Racecourse, also crowned the Racetrack of the year in 2003, has its own radio station know as the York Race Day Radio and has the capacity to entertain a strong crowd of 60,000 spectators. Ebor Festival is considered to be evolved from the running of the Ebor Handicap in 1843, and continues to attract huge numbers of audience each year. A feast for the eyes is guaranteed since multiple first-rate feature races are promised on each day complimented by the latest race course fashion.
Day one (Juddemonte International Stakes)
The first day of the festival is scheduled to host a total of three stakes namely Goffs Acomb Stakes, the Great Voltiguer Stakes and the Juddmonte International Stakes. The most important of these is the Juddemonte International Stakes, which is categorized as the Group 1 race for thoroughbreds of age three and above. It has been named after its sponsor Juddemonte Farms since 1989 and was previously known as the Benson and Hedges Cup. It is a left-handed 1 mile, 2 furlongs, 88-yards run race. Being the richest race at York, it has a purse of 600,000 pounds. The Acomb Stakes is seven furlongs, Group 3 race, for two-year old thoroughbreds. The Great Voltigeur Stakes is a 1 mile, 4 furlongs, Group 2 event, for the three-year old thoroughbred colts. The timings, names of the races, and, their respective distances are as follows:
Time: Race Name: Distance:
13:45 Symphony Group Stakes 5f
14:15 The Goffs Acomb Stakes (Group 3) 7f
14:50 Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) 1m 4f
15:25 Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1) 1m2f
16:05 The Watt Fences Racecourse Supplies Stakes 6f -Nursey Handicap
16:40 Patrington Haven Leisure Park Stakes 1m 2f
Day two (Ebor Day)
The original Ebor Handicap, the Gimrack Stakes and the Lonsdale Cup are scheduled for the second day. Londsdale Cup is meant for horses of age 3 and above, who have to run a distance of 2 miles and 88 yards. It is classified as a popular test for contenders in training for the Doncaster Cup as a Group 2 race. The Gimrack Stakes is a 6-furlong long run by 2-year old colts and geldings. The main event of the day will be the initiative race of the festival, Ebor Handicap. It is meant for thoroughbreds aged 3 and above and a running of 1 mile and 6 furlongs. It is the richest flat handicap in Europe, with a purse of £210,000. The schedule of the day is as follows:
Time: Race Name: Distance:
13:45 Racing UK Stakes – Handicap 1m 4f
14:15 Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup 2m (Group 2)
14:50 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing 6f Gimrack Stakes (Group 2)
15:25 totesport Ebor - Heritage Handicap 1m 6f
16:05 Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed) 5f 16:40 EBF August Fillies' Stakes – Handicap 1m
Day three (Ladies’ Day)
Two feature races will be held on the third day namely Lowther Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks. Two-year old thoroughbred fillies will contest the 6-furlong sprint of the Lowther Stakes, which is a Group 2 event, while the Yorkshire Oaks is the major race of the day. It is a left-handed 1 mile, 4-furlong race for thoroughbred fillies and mares of age 3 and above. The schedule of the day is as follows:
Time: Race Name: Distance:
13:45 The DBS Premier Yearling Stakes 6f
14:15 Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes (Group 2) 6f
14:50 Addleshaw Goddard Stakes 1m
- Heritage
15:25 Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) 1m 4f
16:05 European Breeders Fund Galtres Stakes 1m4f
16:40 Racing UK Stakes - Handicap 5f
Day four (Nunthorpe Day)
The main events of the fourth day are the Strensall and Nunthorpe Stakes. The former was added to the glorious event in 2008. However, it has been used previously to check the abilities of the thoroughbred contenders of age 3 and above. It is a Group 3 race over 1 mile and 208 yards. The latter are considered to be the fastest sprint race in the country. This race, runs over 5 furlongs, and has always had dazzling spectators. It is open to thoroughbreds of age 2 and above. It is one of the very few Group 1 events providing a platform for the juvenile colts to compete against the more mature ones. Along with the Ebor Handicap, it is one of the biggest events of the York Ebor Festival. The events of the last days are scheduled as follows
Time: 13:45
Race Name:Sky Bet Melrose Stakes - Heritage Handicap Distance:
1m 6f
Time: 14:15
Race Name: Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (Group 3) Distance:
1m 1f
Time: 14:50
Race Name: Sky Bet City of York Stakes (Listed) Distance:
7f
Time: 15:25
Race Name: Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) Distance:
5f
Time: 16:05
Race Name: The Convivial Maiden Stakes Distance:
6f
Time: 16:40
Race Name: Racing UK Knavesmire Stakes – Handicap Distance:
2m
This event is the most anticipated extravaganza of the mid-summer. It will bring together more than 20 high-profile racing fixtures – including the festival’s feature race: the Totesport Ebor Heritage Handicap. The great thoroughbreds of the season are in line to grab one of the limited starter positions in the event. Of course only a few of these potential runners will get the chance to actually take the track in the event itself. It will be a seriously tense race for the contenders. Bookmaker William Hill offers excellent odds on the prospective runners in the Ebor Heritage Handicap.
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