Hold your horses, the flat racing season isn’t quite done yet! The Ebor Festival gets underway this week, with four days of elite racing taking place at the iconic York Racecourse.
The Ebor was first held in 1843 and is one of the last major flat race meetings of the season. And if the prestige of the event isn’t enough to get you in the mood, it’s also one of the last opportunities to see legendary jockey Frankie Dettori in action.
The Italian has enjoyed many incredible moments at the festival, with his first Group 1 winner coming way back in 1993. He also rode Enable to victory in the Yorkshire Oaks in both 2017 and 2019.
As we look ahead to another spectacular event in York, we’ve put together all the information you need to enjoy this year’s Ebor Festival.
The first day at the Ebor Festival sees York’s richest race of the season, the Juddmonte International Stakes, take place. Dettori will be looking to win the Group 1 contest for a record sixth time as he stands in for Jim Crowley aboard Mostahdaf.
Elsewhere, there are plenty of other top races to look forward to, with the Voltigeur Stakes immediately following the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes on a jam-packed opening day.
1:50pm – Sky Bet & Symphony Group Stakes
2:25pm – Tattersalls Acomb Stakes
3:00pm – Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes
3:35pm – Juddmonte International Stakes
4:10pm – Sky Bet Stayers Stakes
4:45pm – IRE Incentive, It Pays to Buy Irish Stakes – Fillies’ Handicap
5:20pm – Sky Bet Nursery
Ladies Day takes place on day two and while spectacular outfits will be on display, all eyes will be on the Yorkshire Oaks. Savethelastdance and Bluestocking are going head-to-head again in the British Champions Series race, having finished first and second in the Irish Oaks last month.
Thursday kicks off with the Lowther Stakes, a Group 2 sprint over six furlongs, before the Premier Yearling Stakes gets underway.
1:50pm – Sky Bet Lowther Stakes
2:25pm – Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling Stakes
3:00pm – Clipper Stakes
3:35pm – Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks
4:10pm – British EBF and Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes
4:40pm – OR8wellness ebfstallions Nursery
5:20pm – British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Stakes
The key race to look out for on Friday is the Nunthorpe Stakes, which Dettori won for the first time on Lochsong 30 years ago. Last year’s winner Highfield Princess is the favourite to retain the crown this time around.
Elsewhere, look out for the Lonsdale Cup, a race Dettori has won on three of the last five occasions, as well as the Gimcrack Stakes, a Group 2 affair.
1:50pm – Sky Bet Stakes
2:25pm – Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup
3:00pm – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes
3:35pm – Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes
4:10pm – Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies’ Stakes
4:40pm – British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes
5:20pm – Sky Bet Mile Stakes
The final day of the festival sees us go out in style with the Ebor Handicap, the most valuable flat handicap in Europe. The favourite this time around is Sweet William, who recently edged Dettori’s Adjuvant in the Coral Summer Handicap at Goodwood.
Day four kicks off with the Strensall Stakes, a Group 3 race that Dettori has won a record eight times. Elsewhere, look out for the City of York Stakes and the Melrose Stakes.
1:50pm – Sky Bet & Symphony Group Strensall Stakes
2:25pm – Sky Bet Melrose Stakes
3:00pm – Sky Bet City of York Stakes
3:35pm – Sky Bet Ebor
4:10pm – Sky Bet Constantine Stakes
4:45pm – Julia Graves Roses Stakes
5:20pm – Sky Bet Finale Stakes
With the flat racing season almost over, the Ebor Festival is one of your last chances to catch a glimpse of the best horses and jockeys in action. As ever, you can take advantage of Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages, with luxury private enclosures, food and drinks packages and plenty more.
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