York Racecourse Guide

Racing at York dates back to Roman times, while the current racecourse location in the south-west of the city dates back to the 1700s and is known the world over as The Knavesmire.

York is exclusively used for Flat racing and stages some of Britain's major summer meetings in a wonderful, welcoming and truly modern environment.

York Racecourse Location

Where is York?

The course is located in the south-west of the city of York, with the official address of Knavesmire Road, York and a location conveniently within a mile of the city centre.

How to get York Racecourse

By Train

Fast and frequent trains run from London Kings Cross, taking as little as 1 hour 52 minutes. Direct trains also run from Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham.

By Bus

The 197 Shuttle Bus service links York Railway Station to the Racecourse from 11am on racedays and is priced at just £4.00 return.

By Car

The recommended raceday route to the racecourse from all directions is via the A64 to the south of the racecourse. There is a plentiful supply of free car parking on all racedays, while there is a taxi rank on Campleshon road for pick up and drop off.

York Racecourse Layout

Long established as one of Britain's favourite Flat tracks, racing has taken place on the Knavesmire since 1730.

The track is left-handed and essentially level in most places, including the six-furlong straight course.

York is a wide-open racecourse, ideal for the long-striding galloper and with lots of racing room ensuring it is regarded as one of the fairest tracks around. The track was made into a circuit in 2005 during a major redevelopment, and offers a straight 5f/6f track, while 7f races start on a chute. The turns are sweeping in nature.

Enclosures and Viewing Areas

York has three main enclosure offerings as well as dedicated hospitality boxes and unique locations such as the Gimcrack Suite and Committee Room.

• County Stand – Premier enclosure with exclusive bars, restaurants and viewing lawns

• Grandstand & Paddock – Largest enclosure with many bars offering racing views and 'Good food to go' options alongside the Knavesmire Restaurant and Roberto Lawn & Southern Terraces

• Clocktower Enclosure - Relaxed area with view of the stands, a grassy bank with close up finish views and food Court, bars & bookmakers as well as family friendly picnic area.

Key Races at York

The Dante

The Dante Festival is York's opening meeting of the season in May and takes its name from this Group 2 contest run over a mile-and-a-quarter and widely considered to be Britain's pre-eminent Epsom Derby Trial.

The Ebor

Often this has been Europe's richest handicap race. The event is named after the shortened form of Eboracum, the Roman name for York and it remains one of the most sought-after handicaps races in the calendar. It is the flagship race at August's Ebor Festival.

The Juddmonte International

The International Stakes is a Group 1 contest run over a mile-and-a-quarter and is York's richest race in the season. It stands out as one of Europe's key races and is the penultimate middle-distance QIPCO British Champions Series race, often bringing together star three-year-olds and their older rivals.

It was officially crowned the world's best race in 2024 for the third time in a decade in the Longines World Racing Awards.

The Nunthorpe

The Nunthorpe is Europe's premier Group 1 sprinting event, run over the flying five-furlongs at the Ebor Festival in August. It has enjoyed top-level status for more than four decades and is one of the fastest races run in Britain.

York Racecourse History

As its name implies, Knavesmire was a mire with a stream running through it and a considerable amount of levelling and draining was required to create the horseshoe shaped course, which opened for its first meeting in 1731.

Racing has developed here over the centuries, with the 2000s witnessing York's biggest redevelopment and the building of the majestic new grandstand as well as the track being reconfigured into a full circuit.

York's standing was highlighted in 2005 when the course was chosen to host the Royal Ascot meeting during redevelopments at the Berkshire venue.