Knavesmire shapes up to mighty Ascot

IN the red corner we have the undisputed champion - Ascot. It has been the playground of royalty for decades. In the blue corner is the lively challenger - York Racecourse. Labelled the 'Ascot of the North', it is widely acknowledged to be one of Britain's flagship racecourses.

At stake is a heavyweight belt. The royal meeting of 2005. One of the most prestigious flat racing events of the season, where more than 250,000 people enter the turnstiles over the five-day festival.

Royal Ascot's home is the Berkshire course, but there are questions over whether the meeting can be run there in the face of £180 million of redevelopment work.

A decision has to be made. Continue regardless in 2005 or send the meeting elsewhere for one year. If the latter is the only option, York is waiting in the wings.

There is still a long way to go. Ascot is not expected to make its decision until later this year and the sport's governing body, the British Horse Racing Board, will not ratify a final choice until early 2004.

But that hasn't stopped the many thousands of racing fans in North Yorkshire dreaming of top hats and Bollinger on Knavesmire in June.

The royal meeting is not an easy event to stage. Racegoers consume more than 120,000 bottles of champagne, eat more than 6,000 lobsters and drink 1,761 kegs of beer.

There is also the issue of the races themselves. Ascot, with a track measuring more than two miles long, is one of the country's biggest flat courses.

York stands at two miles, not quite long enough to run the Gold Cup or the Queen's Vase.

It is important these issues are addressed. For the two races in question are among the biggest on the Royal Ascot card. Withdrawing them is not an option.

James Brennan, York Racecourse marketing manager, says the course is delighted to be linked with the royal meeting. But he warned that proceedings are at a very early stage.

"It is an exciting possibility. The first thing that needs to be done is that Ascot makes its decision," he said.

"That's even before we get to the stage of considering planning issues. At this stage the royal carriage is somewhat before the horse.

"There are issues. There are a couple of races which are over the two miles distance, which are too big for the York track."

But from the Dante trial, in May, to the Ebor meeting, in August, York has an event pedigree that few can surpass. And make no mistake, Ascot will be doing its best to hang on to its prized asset. Officials may well decide to move it elsewhere, but it will be through gritted teeth.

Nick Smith, Ascot spokesman, said: "We are looking pretty carefully at the options for 2005. The redevelopment work will be at its peak at that point and we have to consider if we can provide an acceptable Royal Ascot environment during a major building process.

"York has been mooted as the front-runner and they have got a fantastic track and it would be well received by those providing the action on the track."

To bring Royal Ascot to York would entail an overhaul of parking facilities, catering arrangements, policing and security. Quite simply, it would be the biggest meeting York will have ever held. But the bosses at Knavesmire are sure they are up to the task.

William Derby, York Racecourse chief executive, explains: "Obviously we are capable of staging big meetings, we have fantastic facilities and can handle large crowds.

"Hypothetically, the idea would seem to be very good for the racing industry, Yorkshire and the North.

"We know York as a city has the rail links and hotels to deal with the crowds. If we were asked, we would be thrilled to help out."

York has also the tourist network to deal with the massive influx in numbers crowding the city's hotels.

"If the Royal Ascot event were to come to York it would be a massive coup for the city," says Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau.

"Race going is an increasingly popular pastime and isn't restricted to the rich and famous. While York has high-quality hotels such as Middlethorpe Hall, Le Meridien, York Marriott and the Hilton, the city can also offer a whole range of mid-price stylish modern hotels."

There is no doubt that the Royal Ascot event would see the city's hotels and guest houses full to the brim. But with more than 11,000 bed spaces in York, the tourist industry appears well equipped to handle an increase in visitor numbers.

Gillian added: "Royal Ascot would have much wider implications for the city's tourism industry than simply bringing business to York over the five-day event.

"The tourism bureau would be encouraging racegoers to stay on after the racing has finished to explore some of the city's finest shops and visitor attractions.

"When you consider that Royal Ascot attracts up to 75,000 visitors each day this has huge implications for repeat visits and increased visitor spend in the city and in the Yorkshire region."

So the choice boils down to Royal Ascot in the grip of one of horse racing's biggest building works or at a York track with facilities geared towards the royal meeting.

Will Lefebve spent more than 30 years as a horse-racing journalist for Raceform and the Press Association. He knows which he would choose.

"The overall quality of the racing at York never dips," he said. "It is one of the best courses in the country.

"The presentation, the friendly atmosphere, it's better value than many other courses. It is simply fantastic and York would deserve it."

Ultimately it is Ascot's decision. But if that choice is to represent "what's best for our customers", then high-society will almost certainly be winging its way north and York will have landed a mighty blow.

Ascot facts:

- More than 120,000 bottles of champagne and 75,000 bottles of wine are consumed during Royal Ascot.

- Diners scoff more than 2.7 tonnes of beef, 2.9 tonnes of fresh salmon and more than 6,000 lobsters during the festival.

- 200 tonnes of ice help the 12,000 bottles of Pimms drunk at Ascot. The course also requires 4.5 tonnes of strawberries and 550 gallons of cream.

- Ascot has 288 private boxes, 110 bars and employs more than 4,000 casual staff during race-days.

- 70,000 people a day crowd into Berkshire course during Royal festival week. Yearly attendances top 500,000

York facts:

- The £20 million Ebor Stand, opening in May, will be able to hold more than 12,000 members and County Stand badge holders.

- Crowds at John Smiths Cup day and Ebor day regularly top more than 40,000 people.

- The sight from the Voltigeur Restaurant - on the third floor of the Knavesmire Stand - is proclaimed as "the finest dine and view experience in racing".

- The Tote-Ebor race is the richest handicap in Europe, with £190,000 in prize money.

- Race meeting attendances top more than 260,000 every year.

Updated: 10:32 Thursday, April 03, 2003