'Just what racing needed' - Ebor meeting a shot in the arm in challenging times

York chief executive William Derby claimed last week's Sky Bet Ebor meeting helped cheer British racing up.

Baaeed's brilliant Juddmonte International win and Frankie Dettori's dramatic Ebor success on Trawlerman were among the highlights of four days Derby described as "wholly positive."

"It felt like just what British racing needed," said Derby. "It was a week in the sun with star horses and jockeys doing the talking.

"Baaeed put up a spine-tingling, scintillating performance and he got an absolutely fantastic reaction, reminiscent of Frankel and Sea The Stars.

"The Ebor was an amazing ride by Frankie Dettori – at the same age as me! I'm not sure that many people could have got Trawlerman across the line in front. After the summer that Frankie and John Gosden have gone through, it was sporting drama at its height."

'The Ebor was an amazing ride by Frankie Dettori [on Trawlerman, left]'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The crowd at York was down 3,670 (4.5 per cent) on 2019, but 3,313 of that was on the Thursday, the first of two days of train strikes. The total attendance over the festival was 77,700, with the Saturday attracting the biggest crowd of 28,063.

"We think it was largely down to the train strike," said Derby. "We were up 600 on Friday and 500 on Saturday. The train strike had a big impact. For the last 20 years we've been encouraging people to attend the meeting by train. York station is usually buzzing, but I saw a picture on Thursday and there were two pigeons by themselves on the platform.

"The atmosphere round the parade ring and the appreciation of the racing, the engagement by the crowd, was tremendous. On-course Tote turnover was 14 per cent up on 2019 and that helps show that people aren't just coming for a day out."

It was healthy further afield too, with World Pool turnover up 38 per cent.

"It's great news for UK Racing plc, a wonderful initiative to showcase the best of racing to the rest of the world and an important income strand," said Derby. "It shows the York Race Committee's decision to invest 100 per cent of our forecast media rights money this year into the race programme was vindicated.

"The £1 million investment on top of 2019 and 2021 prize-money levels on the three World Pool days generated fantastic field sizes and runners, and therefore generated increased returns which will help us fund next year.

William Derby: 'The York race committee's decision to invest 100 per cent of our forecast media rights money into the race programme was vindicated'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"Our thanks go to the horsemen who understand that dynamic and supported the races. Interestingly, a number of trainers spoke to me to confirm which were World Pool days, when every runner is crucial to income. They have grasped how important it is.

"Our hope and aspiration is that one day Saturday will be a World Pool day as well, but there are only a limited number and it's incredibly competitive to get one."

The track is committed to maintaining a £400,000 prize fund for the City of York Stakes in the hope of getting it upgraded to Group 1 status, and was delighted with Saturday's new 6f handicap, which took the place of an apprentice version that has been moved to a fortnight on Sunday, September 4.

"When we did detailed race-planning analysis in the winter with the help of the Levy Board, it was clear the betting turnover on the apprentice race was a fraction of the other 27 races at the meeting. That directly affects the sport's and York racecourse's income," said Derby.

"We couldn't have been more delighted with the field on Saturday and the winner, Summerghand, who is a favourite horse trained just ten miles from the track."

Summerghand: Saturday's 6f handicap winner had finished fourth in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon seven days previouslyCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

It came just a week after Ripon's Great St Wilfrid Handicap, also over six furlongs and whose consolation race had to be scrapped as it had no runners.

However, Derby said: "Sprinters are well capable of running again seven days later. Five horses, the winner included, ran in the Great St Wilfrid and I don't think the horses from the consolation would have got into our race."

More to read:

He can be a menace but's he's top class: Gosden hails Dettori after Ebor triumph

'It's a Baldrick plan - but it'll work'- analysing Dettori's Ebor masterclass

Expert jury: which juveniles impressed on Saturday with a view to 2023's Classics?

'What a performance' - Alfred Boucher's connections proud despite narrow defeat

York: Kinross puts the record straight under Dettori to set up Group 1 challenges

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Members' Club Ultimate subscriber? Click here to join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content