THERE will be live television coverage of races at York's ground-breaking Sunday race meeting on September 3.

Evening Press Raceday - the first Sunday race meeting to be held on Knavesmire - is to be shown on Sky Television.

"This is another endorsement of the importance of York staging Sunday racing," said York Racecourse marketing manager James Brennan.

The news comes as York's two-day June meeting began on Knavesmire this afternoon.

The television deal for showing races from the Sunday fixture was arranged through York belonging to an alliance of major racecourses who negotiate television contracts and has been approved by the Racecourse Association.

Though Channel 4 have the rights to show racing from York on other days, they do not televise Sunday racing, so Sky stepped in to snap-up the opportunity.

At present the racing on September 3 is down to be broadcast on Sky Sports 3, but the Sky Television listings department said that at this early stage the channel schedule is subject to change and the racing could be moved to Sky Sports 2 depending on coverage to be given to other sports events.

How many races will be shown from York is not likely to be decided until the end of next month.

Sky Television use the Racing Channel service for showing races but have their own racing presenters on the course. The Sky experts are John Hunt, an experienced racing presenter whose father Paddy owns racehorses, and Alex Hammond, who rides in ladies amateur races and is the wide of leading trainer Micky Hammond.

The Evening Press is sponsoring this unique day on Knavesmire, with a host of events planned to make it a spectacular afternoon of entertainment and great racing for all the family.

A double landmark will be reached at York races on tomorrow.

The total number of spectators at the famous Timeform Charity Day annual fixture on Knavesmire will reach 750,000 on what is the 30th anniversary of the event.

Prize money in excess of £200,000 is on offer at York's two-day June Meeting on Friday and Saturday.

Timeform Charity Day on Saturday features Britain's most valuable sprint handicap for three-year-olds - The William Hill Trophy - and Europe's richest race for lady amateur riders - the 13th running of The Queen Mother's Cup.

Over £2.5 million has been raised for various charities, principally Macmillan Cancer Relief, since the inaugural Timeform Charity Day in 1971.

This figure represents the combined proceeds of the racedays and Timeform's eve-of-meeting dinner at the racecourse.

Tomorrow's seven-race programme begins at 2.10pm with the Charles Henry Memorial Handicap Stakes, which has been won for the last three years by Grey Kingdom, trained near York by Mel Brittain, who is looking to be repesented in the race this time by Hakeem and/or Mother Corrigan.