Racegoers will see a few changes at Knavesmire for the first day of racing in York this year.

About 40,000 people are expected to descend on the city for the event, which starts tomorrow.

Bosses at York Racecourse are looking forward to unveiling a £2million redevelopment of the red-tiled Melrose Stand, nearest the parade ring, at the three-day Dante Festival.

Marketing manager James Brennan said the Owners and Trainers Club in the stand had been extended.

He said: “Since it first opened in 1989, owning a racehorse has become a lot more accessible and popular.”

“So we were getting a little short on space. The new club is three times as big, we’ve extended it at the front and the back to create a new lighter, brighter club, so hopefully that will encourage owners come to bring their star horses to us.”

Above the Owners and Trainers Club, a plush new Melrose Club Lounge has been created, and racing fans can up-grade their County Stand badges by paying £80 instead of £30 to gain entry. It’s a fantastic space with views over the racecourse, limited to admitting 200 people,” said Mr Brennan.

“People have been booking it for special birthdays and anniversaries and York professionals have been choosing it as a more informal way of taking business clients to the races.”

Yorkshire Tapas – small portions of Whitby fish and chips and bite-sized steak and ale pie – will be served in the lounge.

On ground level the Tote Sport betting shop has been given a facelift and a cask ale bar will be open, serving had-pulled bitter.

As for prize money, £875,000 will be on offer across 21 races during the event.

Mr Brennan said: “We are looking forward to seeing some potential superstars. The great thing about the Dante Festival is that it’s spring, it’s the start of the season, and the horses that run here go on to Epsom and Ascot before coming back here in August.”

Weather forecasters are predicting it will get warmer as the week goes on, with sunshine and highs of 12C forecast tomorrow, sunshine and cloud on Thursday and light rain showers on Friday.