Derby trio help York continue to scorch way ahead

In a dress rehearsal for Flat racing’s blue riband contest, The Queen’s Carlton House takes on Aidan O’Brien’s Seville and renaissance man Henry Cecil’s boldly named World Domination in one of the best renewals of the totesport Dante Stakes.

It is why William Derby, the chief executive of York Racecourse, is a contented man – even though the build-up to the three-day Dante festival, which begins today, has been particularly challenging from a weather perspective.

Yesterday, Derby was promising “perfect” ground that is indicative of a track that continues to set a searching pace when it comes to the calibre of racing, prize money and improvements to spectator facilities – three issues that have caused the sport so much angst.

“Sport is all about the clash between the best of the best, and that is what we have in prospect,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“I went over to Ballydoyle a couple of weeks ago and Seville is probably his best Derby prospect, yet it would be wonderful if the Queen could land the totesport Dante and then the Derby.

“And what more can be said about Henry Cecil, who has battled cancer, and is enjoying such a renaissance to his career?

“The difference between a racecourse manager and, say the manger of Leeds United is that I don’t mind who wins. We just want the best horses to come to race here, and for the spectators to come to watch them. That’s what matters. Whatever happens, the horse that wins the Dante is likely to be favourite for the Derby.

That reflects well on York.”

The depth of tomorrow’s contest is such that the placed horses could emulate Workforce, who became the first horse 12 months ago to win the Epsom classic after finishing runner-up in the Dante – a race firmly established as the premier Derby trial.

Workforce is trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the man responsible for Carlton House – one of the Queen’s best prospects of Derby glory since her Aureole was denied by a Sir Gordon Richards-inspired Pinza in Coronation year.

Her Majesty will not be at York tomorrow. She will, says Derby, be an interested TV viewer – even more so after O’Brien surprised many by naming the enigmatic Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon as Seville’s rider, presumably with one eye on jockey bookings for Epsom.

Derby, who is also York’s clerk of the course, would not be averse to “a three-way photo-finish” because of his enduring respect for the connections of the main players in the Dante.

He has a close working relationship with the top trainers. He visited O’Brien’s Ballydoyle base to establish what more York could do to attract the very best horses to the Dante and Ebor meetings each year. The build-up to this week’s three-day meeting has been interrupted by countless calls to discuss the probable going.

Such pro-activism is illustrated by the fact that York winners last year went on to triumph in 20 Group or Group One races around the year, including Workforce’s heroic victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – Europe’s premier contest.

It is reinforced by the racecourse’s enlightened approach to prize money, an issue that has caused a rift between some tracks and trainers. This has seen York retain record amounts of prize money for its signature races throughout the season.

“For the whole year, we’re offering just under £5m which is within three per cent of last year’s total,” explained Derby.

“Racing has been under huge financial pressure with the Levy from the betting industry going down by 25 per cent. We have virtually filled that void from our racecourse operation. We have a very successful conference and banqueting facility that operates 12 months a year.

“Everything we make goes into the facility, prize money or the racegoers’ experience. To attract the best horses, we need to keep prize money at very competitive levels.

“It is already very exciting that Henry Cecil has indicated that Frankel will possibly line up in the Juddmonte International, our richest race, this August if he wins at Royal Ascot. A remarkable winner of the 2000 Guineas, this could be comparable to Sea The Stars winning the Juddmonte in 2009 as part of his record-breaking year.”

If the precocious Frankel’s running plans do incorporate York, racegoers will also have the benefit of a raft of improvements.

A new champagne bar and lawn has been created next to the main County Stand – while there is a renewed commitment, from a catering perspective, to serve locally-sourced food produce. With a view to safety, picnic-goers will no longer be allowed to bring glass onto the course.

These improvements, and many more, are all about York’s determination to maintain the pace of progress that has seen the track rival Royal Ascot for equine and spectator excellence.

Derby concedes the last weeks have been some of the most challenging of his career.

For five weeks, the entire course was covered by snow. The eventual thaw was followed by just seven millimetres of rain throughout March and April, forcing the York groundstaff to water the course extensively to ensure proper grass growth ahead of the 2011 turf campaign. Various nutrients, including seaweed, have also been added to the surface.

“My back garden looks terrible in comparison,” complains Derby.

This process – compounded by the thundery weather of the past week – has been considerably helped by the irrigation improvements undertaken two years ago, another example of York continuing to look forward.

Yet, with a quality Dante field and Malton’s champion jockey Paul Hanagan looking to showcase his riding skills on his local track, Derby says there should be no excuses.

“The ground is perfect going into the opening day,” he added.

York and its devotees would expect nothing less.

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