NO Queen, no duke, not a prince in sight. Top hats will be few and far between, as will the toffs underneath.

After the Ascot jamboree, York Racecourse staged its home-grown racing spectacular today with the start of the Ebor meeting.

Aficionados of the turf, not swayed by fashionable fripperies, will tell you the sport does not come any better.

We hope the triumph of Royal Ascot at York will boost the crowds at our top meeting. They are sure to enjoy a feast of racing fit for a king.

Updated: 10:14 Tuesday, August 16, 2005