BUSINESSES in York could enjoy their busiest day of the year today, as York Racecourse hosts the final day of the Ebor meeting.

The highlight of the region’s racing calendar, combined with expected fine weather means hotels are reporting full occupancy, while pub owners say they expect the punters to flock in before and after the action on Knavesmire today.

Michelle Saxby, of the Georgian Guest House in Bootham, said the hotel could normally expect 100 per cent occupancy on weekends but the Ebor meeting had also made a difference throughout the week.

In Fulford Road, Sharon Turton, of The Old Vic Bed and Breakfast, said: “We’ve been full every year, and the same this year.

“We’ve been full over the last couple of days and we expect to be full over the weekend.”

Geoff Nunns, of Blossoms York in Clifton, said: “Every race proves very popular. The last three years we’ve been completely fully booked for Ebor races and this year has been the same.”

York’s larger hotels have also been given a shot in the arm by the races. Arpit Arora, of The Royal York, said: “We’ve been full for the last couple of days. It’s been very busy and we’re expecting the same tomorrow.”

The festival has been pushed back a day this year, meaning The Ebor Handicap falls on a Saturday for the first time. Thousands of racegoers from the north of England are expected, many from the North East, and pubs are expected to be extra busy as football fans gather to watch the televised Premiership clash between rivals Sunderland and Newcastle.

Yesterday, Paul Gardner, who runs the Windmill in Blossom Street, said: “We are expecting it to be ridiculous. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing all day with queries from people in the North East wanting to know if we are showing the game.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “While we are not expecting any issues as a result of the supporters watching the Sunderland v Newcastle derby match in pubs in the city, we have enough resources available to deal with any trouble.”

David Woods, landlord of the Cross Keys Pub in Tadcaster Road, said: “It’s been very busy.

“We’re expecting it to be very busy tomorrow, the busiest day we’ve had.”

According to James Brennan, head of marketing at Knavesmire, the Ebor meeting generates about half of the estimated £58 million which York’s racing calendar brings to the local economy. “We are expecting a great day,” he said.


BNP donor may speak at racecourse dinner

THE British National Party’s biggest ever donor could be set to address a prestigious York Racecourse dinner, after his horse won at yesterday’s Ebor meeting.

The annual Gimcrack Dinner is traditionally addressed by the owner of the horse that wins the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes, a Group 2 contest for two-year-olds which forms part of the four-day festival.

Yesterday’s race was won by Caspar Netscher, owned by Charles Wentworth, an aristocratic millionaire who was named by national newspapers last year as the BNP’s biggest ever donor. Mr Wentworth, 53, reportedly gave the party £38,000.

Mr Wentworth said the horse was a birthday present from his Serbian-born wife Zorka – and yesterday’s win was “a dream come true”. The horse won by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Lilbourne Lad, who pipped Burwaaz for second by a head.

Trainer Alan McCabe said: “It’s all credit to the team at home and to Charles Wentworth, who is one of my biggest patrons.

Mr Wentworth said: “He is in the Champagne Stakes (at Doncaster on September 10), so that’s an option and he’ll definitely get seven furlongs.”

James Brennan, head of marketing for York Racecourse, said the dinner was an opportunity for owners to discuss the events around the win, and other matters around racing.

He said: “We wouldn’t be presumptuous enough to comment on what any owner would say.”


Vegetable horse ends up in a stew

THE edible horse sculpture on show at this week’s meeting has been “put out to pasture” after it was damaged by overenthusiastic punters.

The six-foot horse was created from vegetables by Yorkshire sculptor Emma Stothard, with help from theatrical set designer Caitlin Jones.

Racecourse marketing manager, James Brennan, said: “There have been people having fun with the horse. Some people got a little bit closer to it than we would have liked. As you expect something made out of vegetables was starting to look a bit worse for wear so we decided to retire him.”