York’s hugely-popular Sky Bet Ebor Festival hosts some of the biggest Group 1 races in the calendar and this year’s meeting promises to be a superb four days.
The month kicks off with the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, held at one of the world’s most stunning racecourses.
Here’s a look at all the Premier Racing fixtures in August.
Goodwood
Qatar Goodwood Festival Day Five, Saturday 1 August
The Qatar Goodwood Festival comes to a close with one of the most competitive sprint handicaps of the season.
The Coral Stewards’ Cup makes for an incredible sight with the country’s top sprint handicappers charging down the straight with one of racing’s most picturesque backdrops.
The Group 2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes – won by subsequent St Leger heroine Simple Verse in 2015 – forms part of a strong supporting line-up.
York
Sky Bet Ebor Festival Day One, Wednesday 19 August
The Sky Bet Ebor Festival could not start with a louder bang.
The Group 1 Juddmonte International has been one by some of the sport’s greatest horses, including Frankel, Baaeed and City Of Troy.
Last year’s winner Ombudsman is likely to face a stiff challenge for his crown with French star Calandagan among the possible challengers.
St Leger hopefuls will line-up in the Group 2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur and the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes for two-year-olds also features on the undercard.
York
Sky Bet Ebor Festival Day Two, Thursday 20 August
The fillies take centre stage on the second day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks.
The very best females will battle it out to join some of the greats on the prestigious roll of honour.
Enable won this race twice and Aplinista also landed the historic prize on the way to victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the end of the season.
Last year’s winner Minnie Hauk is likely to defend her title with Kalpana, Estrange and Johanna Walsh among the top-class fillies with their sights set on her crown.
York
Sky Bet Ebor Festival Day Three, Friday 21 August
There’s a need for speed on the third day of Yorkshire’s top meeting.
The fastest sprinters around will line-up in the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes.
There’s likely to be challengers from across the globe with rapid American two-year-old Bacio, Japanese speedster Satono Reve and French star Rayevka taking on the best of the British.
The top stayers take in the Group 2 Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup, with the two-year-olds battling it out in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes.
York
Sky Bet Ebor Festival Day Four, Saturday 22 August
The top-class race continues as the four-day festival draws to a close.
The £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor – Britain’s most valuable handicap – tops the bill.
The historic 1m6f handicap is always fiercely contested and is often won by a future Group performer. This year’s race is shaping up to be a cracker.
The card also features the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes. The season’s only Group 1 race run over 7f was won last year by Never So Brave in a thrilling finish.
