A Day at York Racecourse
York is one of the best loved racecourses in Europe and is a regular winner of the Flat Racecourse of the year award.
Horse racing can be tracked all the way back to the days of Emperor Severus in Roman times with racing taking place at several venues across the city before moving to the current location of the Knavesmire in 1730. The first Grandstand was designed by the York architect John Carr in 1754 and developments to the infrastructure over hundreds of years have led to the impressive site we see now. Today, York hosts a vast array of amazing race events throughout the year with the Sky Bet Ebor Festival a highlight every August.
York Racecourse was the first independent racecourse to sign up to UNFCCC Sport for Climate Action – Green Knavesmire 300 is committed to delivering Net Zero by 2040 and a 50% reduction in carbon emissions has already been achieved, eight years ahead of target. As part of the biodiversity strand, in 2025 her Majesty the Queen attended the Sky Bet Ebor Festival and was gifted the first jar of Knavesmire Nectar, a honey produced at the course.
York enjoyed a bumper year in 2025 with attendance up 12% to a total of 289,917 plus as part of the Racing to School initiative, they had the highest number of school visits on racedays which will introduce the next generation of racegoers to the sport.
Top Tips for an enjoyable day out at York Racecourse
- Book in advance – early bird discounts are available up to two weeks prior to each meeting
- Arrive early – get your bearings, find your spot and plan where to eat and enjoy the raceday atmosphere
- Experience the action – If you’re in the County or Grandstand take a trip to the Parade Ring to help pick your winner.
- Read the racecard – this give information on the runners and riders plus learn about successful trainers, race history and there might even be a quiz or two
What to Wear?
There is no formal dress code except for in the County Stand where gentlemen are required to wear a jacket, collared shirt and tie. Many racegoers like to dress up for a day at the races though, so make a statement and get your glad rags on!
2026 FIXTURES AND EVENTS
13-15 May – Dante Three Day Festival
23 May – May Spring Meeting
12-13 June – June Meeting
27 June – Summer Music Saturday
10-11 July – John Smith’s Meeting
24-25 July – Music Showcase Weekend
19-22 August – Sky Bet Ebor Festival
6 September – September Sunday
9-10 October – October Meeting
