York celebrate record-breaking year

York have set a new annual attendance record following Saturday’s season-ending finale.

The total attendance for the year broke through the 360,000 mark, reaching 361,087, over 3,000 more than the previous York record set last season.

Attendance on the final Saturday was 20,071 increasing the average attendance for York’s 17-day season to 21,240 as well as making it the eighth day of the year that attracted over 20,000 racegoers.

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The season included a record attendance for the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival of 93,316 and two Saturdays in July with over 40,000 on each day.

Prize money of over £5m represented the largest investment by the racecourse in executive contribution to prize funds and was rewarded by a record number of runners for a season with 1,486 contestants for the 115 races staged.

The last two days of the season continued the theme for the year of competitive and high quality racing with Bannock winning the Listed Coral Rockingham Stakes and Sirius Prospect the Coral Sprint Trophy.

The top trainer prize went to Richard Fahey for the sixth consecutive season with 10 winners and the jockeys’ title went to Paul Hanagan for the third year in succession. He equalled Ryan Moore’s eight successes and achieved more second-placed finishes.

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William Derby, chief executive and clerk of the course, said: “We are delighted that York has welcomed a record number of racegoers to the Knavesmire. The strong performance is testimony to the support we have received from racegoers, sponsors, horsemen and the hard work of the team.

“We employ over 2,000 people working together to deliver a big raceday and the talents of these individuals, plus the wonderful mix of racegoers and thoroughbred sport have created a fabulous atmosphere at the Knavesmire this year.”

He continued: “We were especially delighted that our innovation of the moving the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival to include a Saturday was so strongly supported and was such a success, delivering a 16 per cent increase in attendance for this famous occasion.”

Head of sponsorship and marketing at York, James Brennan, reflected: “It is a remarkable achievement when the economic climate remains so challenging for everyone. Competition for leisure spending is intense and we continue to strive to offer quality racing, value for money and to innovate.

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“The 2011 attendance and ongoing commitment of the course to buying fresh, local produce further support the independent economic study published in July that concluded the racecourse was worth £58m to the York economy per annum.”

Sirius Prospect will now try to follow the likes of Tangerine Trees and Hoof It into the Pattern-race ranks after an impressive victory on Saturday.

Dean Ivory’s progressive three-year-old produced a devastating turn of foot to come from last to first on the stands side under Shane Kelly.

“He’s a serious horse and he’s got the will to win,” said Ivory.

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“It wasn’t a normal handicap, we’ll have to step him up in class now. He’s only a three-year-old and been lightly-raced. Look at the ground he made up.”

Silvestre de Sousa took the riding honours with a 1,983-1 four-timer on Oceanway, Bannock, Orsippus and Licence To Till.

Three of the Brazilian’s winners were for trainer Mark Johnston while Orsippus was for Michael Smith.

Bannock (5-2 fav) bounced back to form in the Rockingham Stakes after disappointing in the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy to defeat Miss Lahar by two lengths.

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“He had a problem in the middle of the season,” said Johnston’s wife and assistant, Deirdre.

“Bobby Elliott was trotting him and his rein broke and the horse hit a wall and cut his leg.

“We just ran out of time to put the finishing touches to him for Redcar.

“We weren’t sure he was 100 per cent then or not, but that brought him on.”

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Oceanway (7-2) battled on bravely to take the Green Tick For Better Odds At coral.co.uk Handicap by three-quarters of a length from Weapon Of Choice.

Grade One-winning hurdler Orsippus (20-1) warmed up for another winter campaign by outstaying his rivals in the coral.co.uk Green Tick Win More Every Race Stakes, beating Valid Reason by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

Licence To Till (5-1) completed a fantastic foursome by just being able to hold Jo’burg off by a head in the Coldstream Guards Association Cup.

Fahey’s Mickdaam (9-4 fav) repaid a little of his 360,000 guineas purchase price by opening his account in the Bet On Your Mobile With Coral EBF “Sakhee” Maiden Stakes under Hanagan.

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OUT for 14 months with a broken leg, Richmond jockey Keith Mercer made a winning return to the saddle when Allbarkanobite won at Hexham.

Mercer, having just his seventh ride since being passed to fit, made the most of the testing conditions to drive Middleham trainer Kate Walton’s horse home.

Mercer was only booked for the ride because the trainer’s son-in-law, Richie McGrath, is sidelined with a broken jaw.