ROYAL Ascot will definitely NOT be coming back to York next year.

The Berkshire-based course today announced that its near £200 million redevelopment should be ready in time to hold next year's Royal Meeting.

Douglas Erskine-Crum, Ascot's chief executive, revealed today that York, Newbury and Newmarket racecourses had been told they would not be needed in 2006.

Almost 225,000 spectators caught a glimpse of Royal Ascot when the prestigious five-day festival of racing and pageantry came to York, along with many members of the Royal Family, in June.

Mr Erskine-Crum said contingency plans were in place should Ascot's building work not go according to plan over the winter, but he insisted that York was no longer in the frame.

The announcement brings to an end months of speculation over the future of next year's Royal meeting, following York's successful staging of the event.

The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, said Royal Ascot at York was one of the most "outstanding" race meetings he had ever attended, while the Duke of Devonshire, the Queen's representative at York, declared the festival a "moment in history".

The sojourn in North Yorkshire in the summer brought more than £20 million into the local economy, but some city centre businesses were critical arguing they lost trade during Royal Ascot week.

James Brennan, marketing manager at York Racecourse, said: "There is a sense that the final page in the book has now been turned. We just look back with enormous pride on what, collectively, everyone did in June. It was a one-year agreement and our expectation was always the same as Ascot's."

Steve Galloway, City of York Council leader, said the news was not unexpected but was "tinged with disappointment".

He said: "It could have been even better second time around," he said. "We recognised that with the massive investment that Ascot was making in the racecourse they effectively, for financial reasons, had to hold the event there.

"Royal Ascot at York was hugely successful and taught us a lot about the kind of events likely to be popular in the city."

York has announced it would be keen to host next year's St Leger, should the classic race be forced to move from Doncaster Racecourse because of its own redevelopment project.

We asked people for their reaction to the news

Tony Lambert, 45, an indexer who works in York: "It's fine by me. It was just an inconvenience for me getting to work and having to rearrange my transport."

Dowell Conning, 17, a York College student: "I think it's a shame for the local community."

David Briggs, 17, a BT engineer from Fulford: "It's a shame it's not coming back. It brought tourism and people to York. We all enjoyed it."

Alice Brown, 24, an IT technician working in York: "It was a blessing for a year, but I don't think we ever expected it to be a regular affair."

Updated: 08:44 Wednesday, October 12, 2005