The royal meeting is coming to York in 2005

The three-day festival is a chance for racegoers to flex their fashion muscles ahead of Royal Ascot's visit in 2005.

Traffic and travel arrangements for next year are already being tested at Ebor and now British racing chiefs want to do the same with course fashion.

Style experts have been giving advice on the hats, suits and dresses to be seen in on the racing board's website.

With Ebor already known for its extravagant fashions, the British Horse Racing Board sees it is an ideal dress rehearsal for next year's Royal Ascot meeting at York.

Race arrangements

"Ebor is known almost as much as a social event as for the racing," a spokeswoman told BBC News Online.

"This is fashion's first website dedicated to fashion at the races and features a host of ideas and advice for girls and guys wanting to look trendy on the racecourse this summer.

Race organisers have already been working to lay the final preparations for Ebor, which takes place between 17 and 19 August.

Traffic and train travel plans for Royal Ascot are also being tested over the next three days.

A crowd of 32,000 is expected at each of three days, which horse racing officials say is the highlight of the summer racing calendar in the north.