York - Home of The Ebor Festival

Until the early nineteenth century, the gallows, informally known as the ‘three-legged mare’ welcomed racegoers into York. Executions were a regular side feature at the course as inquests often coincided with race meetings.

There is some speculation as to why this spot of land near the River Ouse is known as the Knavesmire. The most interesting theory is that it is derived from ‘knave’, meaning a dishonest or unscrupulous man, but it could also derive from the fact that the ground is quite often waterlogged...

While racing in York has been going on in various locations around the city since Roman times, the current course was opened in 1731.

The architect, John Carr, was responsible for designing the viewing stand at the racecourse. It is believed to be the first stand of its kind on a British racecourse, opening some time in the 1750s. Part of that stand remains today, making it the oldest stand still in use in any sport, worldwide.

A few prestigious horses are honoured with races at York. The Voltigeur Stakes that takes place at the Ebor Festival, remembers the Derby and St Leger winner, Voltigeur, who was defeated by his arch-rival The Flying Dutchman here in 1851. The Dante Festival hosts the Dante and Musidora Stakes, dedicated to the Yorkshire trained Classic winners. The Gimcrack Stakes celebrates ‘the little grey horse’, who won twenty-seven of his thirty-six starts in the mid-eighteenth century.

Traditionally, the winning owner of the Gimcrack Stakes makes a speech at the annual dinner of the Gimcrack Club. It is no longer a requirement for them to provide ‘six cases of champagne’.

York has a reputation for mixing the old and new, which extends to its meetings and racecards. Further races have been introduced over the years, such as the Group 1 International Stakes - ‘the world's best race’ according to the Longines World Racing Awards. Brigadier Gerard suffered the only defeat of his career in the 1972 race to Roberto when the pair both broke the course record.

The performers at this year’s Ebor Festival showed the kind of quality that continues to return to York to this day. There's not a 'three-legged-mare' (or colt for that matter) in sight.