YORK Racecourse chiefs turned down the chance to move May’s Dante Stakes from its traditional Wednesday slot to a new Saturday date, The Press can reveal.

As the totesport Ebor Handicap was confirmed as having moved to a weekend from next year, Knavesmire chiefs said they had also been asked by Racing For Change, the body charged with rejuvenating horseracing, to do the same with their spring Derby trial.

But the organisation’s pleas fell on deaf ears, with York officials arguing their fixture list needed to remain balanced and of the belief that six Saturdays in a 17-day season was sufficient.

William Derby, York chief executive and clerk of the course, said: “We were asked the question as to whether we would move the Dante Festival to a Saturday and we said ‘not at this stage’.

“Primarily, the reason for that is to keep our distance from Epsom – to ensure that we keep attracting horses that then go on to the Derby. It’s also a different atmosphere in May and we are cognisant of that.

“We already have a Saturday in late May which is not a festival day. It’s a normal raceday which has been building and we want to keep that balance for that.

“They wanted us to put the Dante on the Saturday.”

Saturday, August 20, 2011 is the date for the diaries – the day which will see the first Ebor Festival Saturday.

The change to give the four-day Knavesmire showcase a thrilling finale with Europe’s richest Flat handicap was confirmed by the British Horseracing Authority today.

The 2011 festival will begin on Wednesday, August 17, with the Juddmonte International and will run until Saturday – with the Darley Yorkshire Oaks and Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes keeping their Thursday and Friday billing.

The change came after the racecourse was approached by Racing For Change, which wants the Flat season to include more big race Saturday fixtures.

The wider race programme for next year’s festival will now be the subject of further discussions with “racing professionals and sponsors”.

Nicholas Wrigley, chairman of York Racecourse, said: “We believe it is a positive move for York and for racing.

“All the returns made by York Racecourse are invested in three main areas: prize money – which reached record levels this season; facilities at York – such as the track project, Knavesmire, Melrose and Ebor Stands; and the racegoer experience on the day.

“The more successful that York is as an operation then the more that can be invested in these areas.

“The totesport Ebor is our oldest and probably most famous race.

“To have the richest Flat handicap in Europe on a Saturday should generate huge interest both on course, on television and for the betting industry.”