Your Guide to the Sky Bet York Ebor Festival

Features | 20^th August 2025

The Sky Bet York Ebor Festival is one of the highlights of the summer.

Top-class racing is combined with fashion and fun in a summer garden party vibe – all at the reigning UK Racecourse of the Year.

You will witness the race officially rated the world’s best, one of the fastest sprints of the season and Europe’s most valuable handicap.

Here’s everything you need to know about four fabulous day of racing.

Racing

The Festival starts in the best possible style.

The big race on the opening day – Wednesday 20 August – is the Group 1 Juddmonte International. Last year, when City Of Troy landed the contest, it was rated the best race in the world. This season, Coral-Eclipse winner Delacroix and Prince Of Wales’s Stakes hero Ombudsman are among the likely contenders.

The fillies take centre stage on day two – Thursday 21 August – when the feature contest is the Group 1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks. Dual Oaks winner Minnie Hauk is on course to add the Yorkshire version to her haul.

There’s a need for speed on the Festival’s third day – Friday 22 August – when some of the world’s top sprinters will descend on York for the Group 1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes.

The Sky Bet Ebor – the most valuable handicap in Europe – tops the bill as the Festival climaxes with a superb seven-race card. The Sky Bet City Of York Stakes – run as a Group 1 prize for the first time – is one of the supporting races.

Fashion

Many visitors to the Sky Bet Ebor Festival love to dress for the occasion.

There are requirements in the top enclosure but most people love to look their stylish best regardless of where they watch the racing.

Visitors to the County Stand need to follow the dress code. Men must wear a collared shirt, jacket and tie.

There are no formal rules for women but most choose to dress up in similar attire to that of a wedding outfit. Lots like to wear summer dresses, high heels and hats.

The Grandstand and Paddock enclosure has no dress code but most visitors enjoying dressing up along the same lines as the County Stand dress code.

History

Racing in York can be traced back as far as the Romans.

It is thought the first race held at current site, known as the Knavesmire, was the King’s Guineas in 1731. A few years later, the site drew crowds for a more sinister reason – the hanging of notorious highwayman Dick Turpin.

By the 19^th century, there were two main meetings held at York. The spring meeting in May and the August fixture. These remain to this day in the form of the Dante meeting and the Ebor Festival.

Food & Drink

There is something delicious to suit every taste and requirement.

York Racecourse focusses on trusted local suppliers to make sure the freshest ingredients are used, wherever possible, across all enclosures.

There are options for vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs, as well as providing soya-free and wheat-free dishes.

Whether it’s a formal restaurant, more relaxed bistro, Yorkshire pies, traditional fish and chips or a quick burger, you will not be short of choices.

There are no end of bars catering for everything from a refreshing pint to celebratory champagne and everything in between.

ATravel

It’s easy to get to York Racecourse no matter how you’re travelling. Track is located just a mile from York city centre and the route is marked.

Direct trains stop at York from many major cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. There is a shuttle bus service from the station to the racecourse.