SIR GRAHAM HALL, chairman of Yorkshire Forward tells how his regional development agency will be backing the idea of York Racecourse playing host to the Queen while Ascot is out of action.

EVER since plans for the new Ascot Racecourse were unveiled last June, there has been growing speculation as to where else could provide a worthy temporary venue for the Royal meeting.

As far as I'm concerned, and I'm sure you'll agree with me - there's no finer racecourse than York to host this prestigious event. And if York is chosen by Ascot to host the meeting, there could be a great knock-on boost to our tourist industry in the process.

Other courses that could also be in the running, including Newmarket and Cheltenham, pale in comparison with what York has to offer. First of all, the Knavesmire itself, which won Racecourse of the year in 2001, is one of Europe's premier tracks, and came out top in the Times Newspaper survey of all Britain's racecourses in that year (and incidentally it heads the 2003 listing with an improved score of 89 per cent since the opening of the Ebor Stand).

But that's not all. The many visitors the meeting would generate would also have the opportunity to see what makes Yorkshire the place to take "Britain's Biggest Break". Indeed, our 2002 tourism campaign increased the number of people visiting here by 57,000, and the latest campaign, launched in January with newspaper, magazine and television advertising, brought a further 200,000 inquiries by the beginning of April.

The Yorkshire Tourist Board's website was definitely feeling the strain with 45,000 visits - increasing traffic by 40 per cent!

Our region has it all, and I'm convinced that any of those racegoers visiting here for the first time would be impressed enough to come back again for a longer stay.

York Racecourse, York City Council and other organisations have already been working on a series of initiatives that have helped to raise the city's and the region's profile. Schemes like Arriva's "Back a winner by train" offer a discounted entry to York & other Yorkshire tracks, if racegoers request a voucher when they buy their travel ticket to the relevant course.

Yorkshire Forward will help to put across a very strong case for York, including galvanising business support for the project from companies in the region.

Along with our partners at the Yorkshire Tourist Board we can provide useful statistics on things like the number of beds available in a 45-minute drive time from York Racecourse, broken down by star rating.

We will offer assistance in co-ordinating any fact-finding visits by members of the Ascot Authority to the region to help showcase the racecourse, the quality of accommodation and quality of life, as well as the broader business facilities that we have available here. As we are in regular dialogue with regional MPS, MEPs and peers we are rallying their support and influence.

Securing an event like the Royal Meeting would be more than the icing on the cake for an already first-class venue - it would mean tremendous kudos for the city of York and the whole region and I want to be clear that Yorkshire Forward is working hard to help land the prize.

Updated: 09:02 Tuesday, July 22, 2003