York has won the Racehorse Owners Association's racecourse of the year award for the first time.

Clerk of the course William Derby said he was "thrilled and honoured" to receive the award, after Newbury had taken it for five years in a row.

York's marketing manager James Brennan said: "It's always great to be voted for by groups of your customers.

"It's fantastic news for the team who've worked so hard to put on the show through the summer months."

This year's record-breaking crowds at the Knavesmire contrast with the gloom of last year when unprecedented late summer floods cost York its Ebor Festival.

"We've seen the benefits for owners of the investment we made in the track project," added Brennan. "Two-and-a-half million pounds has kept the ground right.

"You can see the quality of horses that are drawn to York. In these economic times one needs to be mindful of what we spend, but it draws the great horses. Now we're working away, planning away looking forward to next year's first meeting on May 12th."

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