THIS spectacular aerial view shows the result of a year of hard work - the new racing track at York Racecourse.

The two-mile circuit will get its first test in a few weeks' time when racing resumes on Knavesmire.

An extra three furlongs were grafted to the horseshoe-shaped track to allow it to run long races when Royal Ascot comes to the city in June.

Horses will thunder over the new grass in anger for the first time in a stayers' race on Thursday, May 12, during the Dante meeting.

William Derby, York Racecourse chief executive, said the course was looking "great". Mr Derby was with a number of top regional jockeys who tried out the turf earlier this month.

He said: "We have spent a long time planning this. The work was done at this time last year so it (track extension) has had a good 12 months to settle.

"It was fabulous to get on the track and it took very well. We were really pleased with it and it is a great asset for the track.

"We will be assessing it (after the May 12 race) and will be speaking to the jockeys and connections (owners, trainers, and others connected with the industry), and then it will be the Royal Ascot races."

The extension to the course was planned and designed by professional sports designer Mike Harbridge.

Before the work was started, the course even did an archeological survey.

"Just in case they dug up a Roman chariot," said Mr Derby. The Jockey Club has given its assent to the new surface.

Meanwhile, York council leader Steve Galloway said there was a "sense of excitement beginning to build" in the city as the countdown to the event drew closer.

Speaking at a City of York Council executive meeting yesterday, Coun Galloway said: "I do believe the vast majority of people in the city are fully supportive of the event and that the sense of excitement is beginning to build."

Coun Sue Galloway said: "We are acting as ambassadors for the city during Royal Ascot. It is important that everybody remembers that.

"We want people to come back to York and there will be ten million viewers over 33 countries."

Updated: 11:19 Wednesday, April 20, 2005