Backing a winner

EVEN before the first horses burst out of the starting stalls at 2pm today to begin four days of world-class turf action, York – and the horse racing industry – will already be counting their winnings.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Aug 2011, 07:00 BST

The Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival is far more than the crown jewel in a racing industry that is worth nearly £230m to the region’s economy each year according to new research.

It is one of the great social highlights of the Yorkshire calendar, with spectators as likely to be enamoured by the stylish fashions and unrivalled local cuisine that has seen York excel in the crowd stakes in recent years.

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And the magnificent course, once again in pristine condition thanks to the efforts of William Derby and his team, also provides an opportunity for all sports devotees to witness unrivalled action.

With football’s Premier League once again bereft of any local participation, and Yorkshire sides now absent from rugby union’s highest echelons, horse racing is one of the few mainstream sports that continues to prosper in this region and bring people together from across the social spectrum to enjoy a memorable day out and, with luck, back a locally-trained winner.

Related topics:YorkYorkshirePremier League