YORK Racecourse has smashed its previous record for a season's attendance, rounding off an outstanding year for the city's most prestigious sporting venue.

As the last meeting of 2003 opened for its final day, racecourse bosses confirmed that the attendance for the year so far was 265,223 - topping the previous record of 265,182 paying punters, set in 2001.

Course marketing manager James Brennan said 7,914 punters attended yesterday's meeting, and pre-sales for today's event were good.

"It's been a great year," said Mr Brennan. "We've seen some fabulous racing, with a number of particularly memorable wins in August, and some fine weather.

"People have enjoyed the new Ebor Stand and, of course, there has been the news about Royal Ascot."

Mr Brennan said chief executive William Derby was particularly pleased to achieve the record in his first season in charge.

"I am sure he would say it is a tribute to the team at York and all the racegoers."

The blustery weather meant the racecourse was relatively quiet yesterday with a total of £66,100 in prize money up for grabs in seven races.

Rebecca Adamson and Fiona Clancy, both 25, of Beverley, said they were looking forward to the Royal Ascot meeting being held in York in either 2005 or 2006.

"It will really put the north on the map," said Fiona, who works at Beverley Racecourse.

York pensioner Stanley Sanderson, 76, of Hamilton Drive, York, praised the management team at the course. "I have been a racing fan all my life and there's definitely been a resurgence," he said.

Updated: 09:42 Saturday, October 11, 2003