RACING fans looking forward to York Racecourse's inaugural Sunday meeting have been boosted by the addition of an eighth race on what was already a bumper card.

Racecourse chiefs had framed the meeting to attract plenty of runners and thus provide a cracking days' action for racegoers, and such was the bumber entry that today they have had to divide the 4.50pm York-England.com Maiden Auction Stakes and put on an additional race at 5.50pm.

The meeting - being sponsored entirely by the Evening Press - has attracted a huge total of 136 runners, one of the biggest entries at the Knavesmire course this season.

However, the 4.50 maiden auction stakes exceeded the maximum 23 horses deemed safe to run in a single race, and under racing rules a straight draw has determined which horses is to compete in each division.

The Evening Press Raceday was already expected to bring bumper crowds to Knavesmire, with Sunday racing designed in part to attract a family audience.

Giving it a eight-race rather than a seven-race card will add to the excitement.

Clerk of the course John Smith told the Evening Press: "We don't want three or four runners in a race on such a day.

"The racegoers want excitement and plenty of horses to run.

"We were anxious to attract as many runners as possible and we were pleased to have brought in this many.

"We're expecting a good crowd, especially with the good weather we've been forecast. The demand for tickets has been very encouraging."

The meeting is the first-ever to be held on a Sunday a York, and Smith added "We're going into the unknown in that respect, but we're very much looking forward to it."

Sheriff Hutton jockey Kevin Darley seeks to increase his lead in the jockey's championship as he is expected to ride in five races.

Racing begins at 2pm with the York Swallow Hotel Nursery Handicap, to be followed by the 2.35 Sanderson Motorhouse York Claiming Stakes, the 3.05 Monks Cross Shopping Park Quintin Gilbey Trophy (Handicap), the 3.40 Polo Supermint Handicap, and the 4.15 Minster Jaguar York Stakes (Showcase Handicap.

The final race was originally scheduled to be the 5.20 Flat Roof Company Maiden Stakes, but the additional race takes the event through to 5.50pm.