RUNNERS, riders and race-goers return to Knavesmire today as the new season opens at York with the Dante Festival.

With one of the coldest and longest winters in living memory behind us, Knavesmire bosses said yesterday “the horses are ready, the stage is set – so let’s go”.

James Brennan, head of marketing at the racecourse, said: “It’s a great chance to catch up with friends you may not have seen over the winter.

“It’s like the build-up to Christmas and we are the parents; you spend a lot of time preparing, but you do it because you want the owners and jockeys and race-goers to have a fantastic day.”

The highlight of the three-day festival comes tomorrow with the Totesport Dante, which features an appearance from Derby contender Workforce.

City of York Council has put special traffic systems in place to cope with the crowds.