RACE fans will get their chance to book tickets for next year's showpiece sporting event in York when Royal Ascot tickets go on sale on Monday.

Ascot bosses have urged York people who want to attend the five-day festival of horse racing and pageantry at York Racecourse, from June 14 to 18 next year, to book early if they want to be guaranteed a ticket.

Ascot said the demand for tickets had been so huge it had announced the public sale three months earlier than normal.

A grandstand enclosure badge will cost punters £50 on each of the five days, while entrance to Knavesmire's course enclosure will be £18. A grandstand badge at this year's Royal Ascot was priced at £54.

Royal enclosure badges, which will be available to Ascot and York annual members for the first time, will not go on sale until January 4, next year. At this stage, it is understood that York's Ebor Stand will make up the Royal enclosure.

Ascot also revealed that plans for a further public enclosure running along the Knavesmire side of the straight, next to the course enclosure, were being formulated, but tickets for the "rails enclosure" would go on sale at a later date.

The Berkshire-based racecourse has now closed for the next 20 months, in order to undertake a £180 million redevelopment. It is that scheme which has necessitated the Royal Meeting's move to York in 2005.

Nick Smith, communications director at Ascot Racecourse, said he would be "very disappointed" if booking phones were not "white hot" on Monday morning.

"We have looked at pricing quite carefully and wanted to advertise this premium event at an appropriate price," he said.

"We will, at some stage, announce the Royal Enclosure plans and we have made an offer to York and Ascot members to apply for the enclosure.

"We have never done that before, as our annual members do not usually receive Royal Ascot tickets in their membership.

"I will be very disappointed if the phones aren't white hot on Monday. A lot of people will be coming to York and will have to consider accommodation. That's one of the reasons why we have opened up sales for tickets in October. Last year, Gold Cup tickets were sold out in three days and, clearly, the message is: book quickly if you want to guarantee a ticket."

Updated: 10:16 Wednesday, September 29, 2004