York Racecourse was today celebrating getting the season off to a flier.

Major crowds, attracted by top-class racing and the first decent weather of 1998, flocked through the gates to herald the start of York's competitive year.

The May Festival meeting was pronounced a 'spectacular success' by racecourse marketing manager David Grouse. Attendances for the three-day meeting totalled 40,769, an increase on last year's corresponding meeting. The first day drew a crowd of almost 10,000, Wednesday a stunning 16,739 and more than 14,300 yesterday.

Enthused Grouse: "We are very pleased, not just with the attendances, but with the quality of racing. There's been a whole buzz about the place and the machine is off and running."

Commercially the course is in unprecedented good health, he added. More than a £1million has come in through sponsorship, a whopping increase of 33 per cent on last year. "Out of 100 races we have only two available for sponsorship. They are both in August and I am confident we will get them sponsored too," said Grouse.

The course is now preparing for its 'World of Racing' project attracting more than 120 exhibitors from Desert Orchid to Grand National-winning jockey Bob Champion from May 29-31.

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