York Ebor Festival Races, Format & History

A Complete History of the Ebor Festival

Give yourself a pat on the back if you know where the name Ebor comes from. If you don’t, it is the shortened form of Eboracum, the name the Romans gave to York when settling in AD 71. The history of the Ebor Festival doesn’t stretch back this far of course but it’s the best part of two centuries old now. Plenty has happened throughout this time and you can read more about the meeting’s fascinating history below.

1731 – Racing commences at York

York hosts horse racing for the very first time at its present Knavesmire site. By the end of the decade its August meeting, now the Ebor Festival, had become the city’s top ranking social highlight of the year.

1843 – Ebor Handicap begins

Although August racing at York precedes this date, the Ebor Festival as we know it was only born following the introduction of the Ebor Handicap this year. Then known as the Great Ebor Handicap, it owes its creation to the work of John Orton who had recently been appointed Clerk of the Course. Initially the race was contested over two miles and only later was it cut to its present distance of 1m 5f and 118y.

1846 – Gimcrack Stakes born

The small yet hugely successful 18th century horse Gimcrack was honoured in the form of this new race at York. Initially open to horses of both genders, in 1987 it became a colt and gelding only affair. Traditionally the owner of the winning Gimcrack Stakes horse delivers a speech at the annual Gimcrack dinner, of which there have been almost 250. No pressure!

1849 – Yorkshire Oaks created

Following shortly after the creation of the Ebor Handicap and Gimcrack Stakes was the Yorkshire Oaks. A filly named Ellen Middleton won the opening renewal and 12 years later the middle distance contest was, for the first time, won by the reigning Epsom Oaks champion. Legendary jockey Fred Archer enjoyed much success during the Oaks’ earlier decades, securing eight victories between 1875 and 1886.

1923 – Double Jack Please

The Ebor Handicap may be an old race but throughout its history only one horse has won it on more than one occasion. This incredible double came courtesy of Flint Jack who returned after finishing runner-up in the 1921 edition to win the handicap in both of the following two years. Clearly with a keen eye for this race, the gelding returned again in 1926 where he managed a highly respectable third place finish.

1932 – Another dead heat

Just two years after seeing a dead heat in the Ebor Handicap, spectators at York Racecourse witnessed another, this time in the Yorkshire Oaks. Officials were unable to see any daylight between Nash Light and Will o’ the Wisp as they crossed the line, forcing them to award the race to both horses. For over sixty years this was the last dead heat seen during a major Ebor Festival race.

1940 – Wartime disruption

The transition away from peacetime had its impact on the Ebor Festival schedule. The Yorkshire Oaks was the first race to fall, returning only in 1946. The Nunthorpe Stakes held on longer but from 1942-44 had to be relocated to Newmarket. York tried it’s hardest to cling onto the Ebor Handicap but in 1943 and 1944 it proved impossible with Pontefract given the honour of hosting the historic race.

1946 – Lowther Stakes reborn

A race by the name of the Lowther Stakes had previously existed at Newmarket but it’s not the same as the race run at York. The Knavesmire version is run over a shorter distance of six furlongs and is only open to two-year-old fillies. It has featured at York ever since its creation with the exception of the 2008 renewal which took place at Newmarket.

1950 – Great Voltigeur Stakes introduced

Exactly 100 years after Voltigeur won the Derby and St Leger, York introduced a name in his honour. Originally simply called the Voltigeur Stakes, ‘Great’ was added to the title seven years later. Almost immediately it served as a trial race for the St. Leger with Premonition becoming the first to win both races in 1953.

1953 – Youth prevails

The Nunthorpe Stakes is quite unique in that it allows juvenile horses to compete against their elders. It took some time for a two-year-old to make their mark on this race but High Treason became the first when winning the 1953 edition of the sprint. Juvenile success has continued to be a rarity but there was a somewhat recent example in 2007 courtesy of Kingsgate Native.

1969 – Intermezzo denied

As of 2019, 13 horses had won both the Great Voltigeur Stakes and the St. Leger, a figure that would be one higher had it not been for a stewards’ call in 1969. Intermezzo found himself penned in by the rail during the Great Voltigeur and with no place to manoeuvre, rider Ron Hutchinson forced his way through a small gap before eventually winning. The Australian’s aggression (aggression from an Australian, surely not?) gave the stewards little choice but to disqualify him in what was not a particularly controversial decision.

1972 – International Stakes created

Former Clerk of the Course at York, Major Leslie Petch, devised a plan for a new middle distance event at the course. Ill health forced him to resign his post before the inaugural running but it was his groundwork that made it possible. The first edition of the then called Benson and Hedges Gold Cup was a truly memorable one. Derby winner Roberto struck gold at the expense of Brigadier Gerard in what ended up being the only defeat of the iconic horse’s career.

1982 – Sharpo completes treble

After Tag End managed the Nunthorpe Stakes hat-trick between 1928 and 1930, there was a long wait for another three-time champion. Decades passed but eventually Sharpo became the second horse to manage the feat with his third consecutive triumph coming in 1982.

1986 – Acomb Stakes introduced

York adds a new race in the form of the Acomb Stakes, a seven furlong test open to two-year-olds. A horse by the name of Bellotto won its first running with Pat Eddery taking the mount. The race is named after Acomb, an area in the western side of city close to the racecourse and in 2006 it enjoyed promotion to Group 3 level.

1988 – Persian Heights denied title

Approaching the final furlong there were five horse almost neck and neck in this year’s renewal of the International Stakes. On the outside of the quintet was Persian Heights who put on the burners as he made his way inside before passing the post first. Jockey of Indian Skimmer, Steve Cauthen, who finished third, launched an objection however stating that Persian Heights caused interference that prevented him from finishing second. Under the rules of racing at that time, the stewards relegated the colt to third, handing the win to Shady Heights.

1991 – Oaks relaxes entry criteria

Ever since its inception, the Yorkshire Oaks had been strictly a race for three-year-old fillies but this changed in 1991. The Group 1 contest now allowed all older fillies and mares to compete, albeit with additional weight. The first non-three year old winner came just two years later courtesy of Only Royale who also won again as a five-year-old, becoming the first ever two-time Yorkshire Oaks champion.

1994 – Channon enjoys first Group 1 success

Former England footballer Mick Channon struck gold for the first time in a Group 1 race but only after an anxious wait. His entry, Piccolo, lost out to Blue Siren in the Nunthorpe but replays showed that the eventual winner bumped Piccolo on his way past. Jockey John Reid immediately launched an objection and subsequently the stewards’ inquiry resulted in Blue Siren and Piccolo swapping places.

1997 – Shared Nunthorpe glory

Large fields competing over the minimum distance mean that the Nunthorpe Stakes is often determined by the finest of margins. In 1997 it proved to be too fine to call as Coastal Bluff and Ya Malak crossed the line at the very same time, producing the race’s first ever dead heat.

2004 – Stoute enters Oaks record books

For over a century, Matthew Dawson’s record of saddling nine winners in the Yorkshire Oaks proved too great of a feat to match. That was until Sir Michael Stoute came along. The Barbados-born trainer got off the mark in 1978 before a flurry of wins at the start of the next century saw his total increase to nine. Quiff’s victory in 2004 helped him match Dawson’s record but will he be able to go one better? Given he continues to turn out such classy horses, win number 10 seems likely to come at some stage.

2004 – Lonsdale Cup promoted

For six years the Lonsdale Stakes had run as a Group 3 event but this changed in 2004 when it was reclassified as a Group 2 status. The same year the race also changed its name to the Lonsdale Cup which it retains today.

2006 – Twice Over become oldest champion

Never before in the history of the usually prestigious Juddmonte International had a horse over five-years-old got themselves first past the post. Twice Over put an end to this though when winning what was a notoriously poor renewal of the Group 1 race. Only five names competed for the £397k first place prize and the six-year-old Twice Over took full advantage.

2007 – Dettori draws level with Piggott

Four years after Lester Piggott secured his fifth, and last, win in the International Stakes, Frankie Dettori scored his first. More success came the Italians’ way and in 2007 he joined Piggott as the race’s all-time leading jockey when guiding Authorized to a one length win.

2008 – Weather forces abandonment

Cancellation of a race meeting due to heavy rain is nothing new but it’s not something you expect to see in August. Torrential downpours led to extensive waterlogging on the Knavesmire, forcing devastated organisers to cancel the entire card. The timing of the unseasonably wet weather was especially cruel too as this was the year the Ebor Festival planned on rolling out its additional day.

Tourism bosses estimated that the cancellation cost the local economy in the region of £5m. Most scheduled races failed to feature but highlight contests, such as the three Group 1 events, did run at Newmarket the very same week. The Great Voltigeur Stakes moved to Goodwood while the Ebor Handicap also managed to get itself relocated, running under the guise of the Newburgh Handicap at Newbury just days after initially scheduled.

2009 – Extra day introduced

At the second time of asking York did manage to add a fourth day of racing to the Ebor Festival, extending the fun and betting opportunities for all. Previously the meeting featured seven races each day but the inclusion of Friday racing saw organisers reduce the number of races each day by one. Still three contests short, a trio of new events made their Ebor Festival debut. The most notable of these was the Group 3 Strensall Stakes which had previously featured at York in September.

2011 – Nunthorpe added to Breeders’ Cup

The Nunthorpe Stakes becomes the latest addition to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series. As a result the winner of the five furlong contest receives automatic entry to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint later in the year. It wasn’t until 2017 when a horse accepted the invitation though. In her final ever race, Marsha travelled to Del Mar for the high profile sprint but could only manage a sixth place finish.

2014 – Juddmonte International crowned world’s best

Based on three-year-averages, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities declared that the Juddmonte International Stakes was the best horse race on the planet. With an average rating of 124.17, the Group 1 contest took the title for the very first time, edging out the hugely prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The following year it lost its place on top spot but still retained the title as being the top rated event in Great Britain, a huge honour for the Yorkshire course.

2017 – Juddmonte International hits £1m

An additional £100k added to the purse of the Juddmonte International sees it hit the £1m mark for the very first time. By doing so the 1m 2f contest became the joint fourth richest race in Britain. The news came just months after York increased the total purse of the entire Ebor Festival by £260,000 with no race offering less than £60,000.

2018 – Stradivarius wins big

A new initiative introduced by Weatherbys Hamilton offered a £1m bonus to connections of any horse who won one of four recognised prep races and then went on to the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup. The prize fund took no time in being snapped up as Stradivarius completed the WH Stayers’ Million during its inaugural year. The Lonsdale Cup at York stood as the final hurdle but John Gosden’s popular horse managed to hold off Count Octave in the two mile test.

2019 – Ebor Handicap enjoys massive cash boost

The Juddmonte International may be York’s richest race the Ebor Handicap is now breathing down its neck. The contest has long been the most valuable flat handicap on the continent but its purse received a huge boost following a new sponsorship deal with Sky Bet. In 2017 it offered a handsome £285k pot but the following year this was upped substantially to £500,000 and in 2019 it continued its meteoric rise by offering an incredible £1m.