Indian Ocean passes the line comfortably clear at the Vaal Classic track today (Tuesday) after a vintage ride from the masterful Piere Strydom (JC Photos)

Races are occasionally priced up in a way that is difficult to understand, but punters will never complain about that and a case in point was seen today (Tuesday) at the Vaal Classic track when bookmakers elected to have the Lorenzo Karriem-trained Mano Pandaram-owned The United States mare Indian Ocean as the biggest outsider in a six horse field.

She started at odds of 8/1, which was the joint longest price, although on the Tote she was paying R6.20, which was only the third longest.

This was hard to understand because she had been kept to stakes races from March through to the end of the season and the big long-strider had caught the eye on numerous occasions.

She was a 2,75 length fourth in the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m and she finished just three lengths back in the Gr 3 Jubilee Stakes over 1800m.

Then in her first start back in an ordinary handicap she came from last over 1800m to win under Piere Strydom.

That day the big filly used her big stride to lope past the small field of six to hit the front at about the 200m mark.

However, what was eyecatching about the win was that when the field was coming back at her Strydom asked for more and she gave it readily. She clearly past the line with a bit in hand.

Today, she was four points higher in the merit ratings, but she was now stepping up to a more suitable trip of 2000m, judging from her way of racing and her decent run in the Lonsdale and a couple of other staying races. She was carrying a welter 64,5kg but is a big horse and with Strydom riding quite heavy these days there was not going to be a lot of deadweight.

The favourite Avoontoast has always been rated but was overall disappointing until winning her last two in good style. Her last win over 2000m by 3,75 lengths suggested she was starting to fulfil her potential and receiving 9,5kg from Indian Ocean it was perhaps not surprising the bookmakers preferred her. However, she had never before faced as good opposition as Indian Ocean had.

In fact Indian Ocean was a Hollywoodbets Durban July entry.

There have been many over-optimistic July entries in the past, but they invariably fall by the way side soon after first nominations.

This year there were two 90-something rated horses who stood their ground in the July right up until the final field announcement. One was trained by now twice July-winning trainer Brett Crawford and the other was Indian Ocean.

That should have told a story.

However, what even the supporters of Indian Ocean did not expect were the tactics employed by the legendary Strydom today (Tuesday).

On course spectators and television viewers were treated to a Strydom master class.

Having sat at the back in her last start and now carrying 64,5kg against a field of the exact same size, everybody expected the big mare to be dropped out to last again.

Instead Strydom did the complete opposite and took her to the front.

With her ears pricked she ran one wide outside of I Am Regal down the back straight and edged ahead of the latter as they reached the turn.

Strydom increased his lead around the turn and was judging it to perfection as the fractions were not fast.

In fact the big mare was relishing every minute of it as she strode down the straight.

By the time the other jockeys realised how well she was still travelling it was too late and their mounts resembled greyhounds in comparsion to the big Indian Ocean as they scrambled to make up the deficit.

She went to the line 2,5 lengths clear with commentator Nico Kritsiotis lauding the ride as “vintage Strydom.”

It was a race that proved the contention that weight is relative and also that class tells.

It also showed what a difference a top tactical jockey can make to a horse’s chances.

To be a top jockey also requires getting the right rides and the like of Strydom are able to spot a good horse.

In his previous win on Indian Ocean, he drove to the Vaal that day for just the one ride.

That should also have been a signal to bookmakers and punters.

Mike de Kock and Sheik Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, pictured together with jockey Kevin Shea, enjoyed prolific success together in SA and Dubai at one time and team up with a Kingman first-timer colt at Turffontein Standside on Saturday (picture: healyracing.ie) 

Mike de Kock and Sheik Mohmmed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum enjoyed a highly successful partnership at one stage, with a win in the July and some big races in Dubai being the highlights, and they team up with Kingman debutant Jaham on Saturday at Turffontein Inside.

This Al Adiyaat homebred colt will become the fifth progeny of Kingman to run in South Africa.

The trend so far is slightly against him, although the positive is that the best one of Kingman’s runners out here to date was trained by De Kock.

Kingman is one of the best sires in the world and only his stablemate at Juddmonte, Frankel, reached 50 stakes winners quicker than him in world history.

He commands a fee of £125,000 and is too valuable too shuttle, but Juddmonte do  arrange southern hemisphere coverings at reduced costs.

Some South African breeders have taken advantage of the latter arrangement.

Kingman’s record in SA to date does not make outstanding reading, but from four runners he has produced the fair sort Good Queen Bess, whom Mike De Kock has trained to win four races and finish third in a Gr 3.

However, Good Queen Bess was bred to normal northern hemisphere time and is out of an Irish-bred mare. She was purchased by Form Bloodstock on behalf of Wilgerbosdrift Stud for €340,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale of 2019.

KIngman’s other three runners here have been bred to southern hemisphere time and are from the mares of South African breeders.

Two of them are out of the Mauritzfontein-homebred Met winner Smart Call (Ideal World).

The first of these was a filly called Call To Glory and after seven runs in the Maidens on the Highveld for three seconds, a third and a fourth she was sent to Alan Greef’s yard.  She has won both of her starts in the East Cape with ease and interestingly both of them have been on the poly.

The second of Smart Call’s Kingman foals was a colt called Royal Summons and after being backed in to 11/2 he finished six lengths back in what has proven to be a strong Juvenile Plate over 1160m in April last year won by the decent Pure Predator with Barbaresco second. However, he has not been seen since although he was gelded in June according to the NRB website so might still be in training.

The other Kingman progeny to race here is a Khaya Stables homebred out of  Irish-bred Let It Rip (Rip van Winkle), who won one race in SA on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly.

This three-year-old gelding had two starts at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in January and March this year respectively, both over 1200m and was beaten 9,70 and 7,90 lengths respectively.

Jaham has also been bred to Southern Hemisphere time and is out of the useful Australian-bred Teofilo mare Tamaanee.

The latter was trained by Sean Tarry and won the Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg over 2000m.

Jaham runs in a Maiden Plate over 1450m on Satutrday and has Muzi Yeni aboard.

Kingman had eight starts for seven wins, including four Gr 1s, all over a mile. He was the Cartier (Europe) champion three-year-old male and was Cartier Horse Of The Year. He is by Invincible Spirit so Mauritzfontein Stud will be especially keen for Jaham to do well because their newest resident sire Digital Age is by Invincible Spirit.

Jaham will be followed with interest by racing purists.

Ginger Delight has been tipped to win the last race. (JC Photos) 

There is an eight race meeting at the Vaal straight course today and value punters could get off to a good start with Line In The Sky.

High draws should be favourable with the outside rail set at zero and Line In the Sky has drawn nine out of 13. The Lorenzo Karriem-trained filly by Danon Platina has a lovely big action and was finishing well last time after being caught wide from a wide draw over this trip at Turffontein Inside. On formlines the favourite Francilien should beat her, because on debut the latter beat Take Your Place over 1200m by 2,25 lengths and Take Your Place then came out and beat Line In The Sky by 0,30 lengths. However, Line In The Sky  now has a favourable draw, as opposed to an unfavourable one in that last race, and she also has useful 2,5 kg caimer Trent Mayhew aboard. It would be no surprise if Francilien won though because she was green on debut and finished strongly for a close second and should have improved. She is drawn in the middle in six.

The second race might go to a first-timer as those who have raced are uninspiring. Lucky Houdalakis-trained first-timer Musical Score is owned by Laurence Wernars and is by Oratorio out of the useful Captain Al mare Esteemal, who reached a merit rating of 96. Blizzard Snow is by Erupt and is a half-sister to the useful pair Slalom Queen and The Mauritian. Blizzard Snow has a favourable high draw and Musical Score is drawn five. Those two make most appeal. Pass The Baton makes most appeal of those who have raced.

In the third Silky Jet is by Vercingetorix out of an Al Mufti mare who has plenty of stamina in her female line and as Weiho Marwing is a master of training stayers she could improve stepped up to 2000m, although her wide draw is a concern. Plum Blossom has a fair draw and has some fair form, including a close third over 1800m. Quello Che has shown some improvement with headgear and could earn.

In the fourth over 2000m Master Tik Tok is ultra consistent and proved he enjoys the distance last time. Muzi Yeni knows him well and stays aboard. High Queue is in hard knocking form and on pedigree should handle the step up in trip being by Master Of My Fate out of Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guinesas winner Silver Mountain, although the latter did have plenty of speed despite being by Silvano. The Cane Train ran a cracker when stepped up to 1800m last time and should be right there with Gavin Lerena up, although she does have a tough draw.

In the fifth race over 1000m Captain Efficient starts off handicapping off a reasonable 71 after finally getting off the mark. However, Fabian Habib pair Commander Of All and John Wick have shown good form and must be included.

In the sixth over 1600m Across The Pond has been catching the eye as a progressive sort and should be finishing well from this wide draw over a suitable trip. Volare E Mambo is ultra consistent and has a good draw over an ideal trip. Those two should fight it out.

In the seventh over 1600m Mocha Frappe has shown signs of ability and off a 75 merit rating could do well over a suitable trip from a plum draw if producing his best under S’Manga Khumalo. Full Go goes well for Malesela Katjedi and should be finishing strongly in a bold bid to claim a hattrick. Archimedes ran a cracker over 1700m in his penultimate start and a repeat of that should see him go close.

In the last race Ginger Delight looks open to improvement and from a plum draw over a suitable trip can prove himself up to an 83 merit rating. Free In Seattle beat Ginger Delight by half-a-length when they last met but was a bit disappointing next time out. Those two are taken to fight it out.

Great Cat has been tipped to win the 8th (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

The Brett Crawford stable has been in very good form over the past few race meetings in the Western Cape and his 5yo daughter of Dynasty, Great Cat, appears the one they all have to beat in the eighth race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville this afternoon (Wednesday). Raced by the Hollywood Syndicate, Great Cat was a good winner of her last start at Kenilworth at the end of April, but she goes equally well at the country course and has yet to finish outside the top two in three starts at Durbanville.

Regular pilot Louis Mxothwa is back from a short break to partner Great Cat, and his record aboard the mare is exemplary. Great Cat probably has most to fear from In The Green Zone and Kinky Boots but, from a plum draw, I expect Great Cat to enjoy the run of the race and come out on top in this Class 4 (F&M) Handicap over 1250m.

For the most part, this afternoon’s 9-race programme looks very tricky with a number of low-grade races on the card. From a quality perspective, the most attractive race is the sixth event, a Class 3 Handicap over 1600m. The scratching of Green Mandarin has reduced the field to only eight runners, but the race has a wide open appearance with each and every runner boasting winning claims. Nevada King has a low weight and is drawn in pole position, which might just give the Snaith runner a marginal edge. Stable companion Future Turn goes well at Durbanville, is neatly drawn alongside Nevada King, and it would come as no surprise to see Snaith saddle the Exacta.

Brett Crawford is represented by no fewer than five runners with Mxothwa electing to partner Future Prince, who has gone 912 days without a visit to the winner’s enclosure. That statistic, coupled with the fact that Future Prince has yet to make the frame at Durbanville, does not augur well for Future Prince, but he seldom runs a bad race and cannot be ignored. Gareth Wright is paired with Allez Moris, whose only previous visit to Durbanville yielded a victory, and he may well turn out to be the best of the Crawford quintet. That being said, even the rank outsider, Lindbergh, could bounce back following two indifferent performances in April and May, particularly as the son of Lancaster Bomber has a fine record at this track. Infrared, last seen in February, and Willie John complete Crawford’s five-way coupling.

The spanner in the works for Snaith and Crawford comes in the form of the Vaughan Marshall-trained Fibonacci. The 4yo son of William Longsword is not easy to catch right, but it’s worth noting that his last success came at the country course back in November last year. He has run very good races in defeat since then, but I am not totally convinced that 1600m is his ideal distance.

The race meeting gets under way at 12:15 with the running of a Maiden Plate over 1000m and the well-exposed and clearly limited Maneki Neko might score an overdue victory. Jumping out of the prime gate, Maneki Neko is unlikely to ever get an easier chance to shed his maiden ticket, and it will be to his advantage in the fitness department that he raced just three weeks ago. Rafa Bay and Fencing Captain make up the short-list of potential winners but I will be in the camp of Maneki Neko.

I’m So Pritti looks the part in the third race, an Open Maiden (F&M) over 1250m, and the 3yo daughter of Vercingetorix is the shortest price favourite on the day. She ran second behind Scarlet Macaw at the course towards the end of July and the form has been franked as Festival Chic, who ran third then, came out to win over the weekend.

Picture: Gimmethegreenlight upon his arrival at Varsfontain Stud in 2012

Gimmethegreenlight was the champion sire for the third time this year and One World was the Outstanding sire for his record-breaking freshman season. Howver, the lattter award could just have well have gone to Gimmethegreenlight as well, because for the second season in a row he did what had never been done since at leat 1953 and perhaps ever – he was the leading sire, the leading sire of three-year-olds and the leading sire of two-year-olds.

Equus Award-winning writer Charl Pretorius wrote about the great Varsontein-based sire in his Off The Record colum this weekend.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT GIMMEGREENLIGHT: CAPTURING HEARTS AND WINNING TITLES

City Of Troy faces a possibly career-defining test in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday (Picture: Sky Sports)

Peter Scargill (Racing Post)

What happens in the Juddmonte International could well define City Of Troy in the minds of many.

A glorious victory such as the ones earned by Frankel, Sea The Stars and Baaeed will elevate him and further diminish his defeat in the 2,000 Guineas and his underwhelming success in the Eclipse.

However, this race has a well-earned reputation for being a champions’ graveyard, with the likes of Brigadier Gerard, Golden Horn, Oh So Sharp and, last year, Paddington leaving humbled.

Questioning a horse who is a Derby winner and has lost only once in his life may seem overly harsh but, having been labelled “our Frankel” by connections last year, expectations have only ever been sky-high for City Of Troy.

“He seems to be in good form and everything has gone well with him since Sandown, everyone is happy with him,” said O’Brien, who also runs Hans Andersen in the race. “We always thought York would suit him as he’s a big, long-striding horse.

“Hans Andersen is a solid, straightforward horse and seems in good form.”

Maturing Ambiente Friendly is ready to take on Derby conqueror City Of Troy
Having secured two Classic placings in the Derby and the Irish Derby.

Ambiente Friendly drops back in trip by a furlong and a half as part of some tweaks that connections hope will put him in with every chance of landing this contest.

As the season has progressed, the hard-pulling Ambiente Friendly who slammed his rivals in the Lingfield Derby Trial has matured into a Group 1 performer whose stamina is perhaps taxed too much by racing over a mile and a half.

No horse travelled better than him to the two-furlong marker in the Derby, but City Of Troy saw out the race better to beat him by two and three-quarter lengths.

The two go head-to-head again at York and Tim Gredley, who owns the colt in partnership with his father Bill, is eager to see how a more grown-up Ambiente Friendly fares this time.

“We’re looking forward to it,” he said. “What’s great about him is that we know he goes to the races and puts in 100 per cent effort, so that gives you greater confidence about watching him. We feel like we’ve tweaked a few things coming into this race and I think the break [since the Irish Derby] can only have worked in his favour.

“He worked at the start of last week and I know that James Fanshawe and Robert Havlin were delighted with what he did and how he did it. He’s settling down and that’s a large part of what’s going to be in his favour now.

“There are a lot of people going there with fantastic horses and we’re realistic about the challenge he faces and that he can’t win every time he runs. However, he’s shown good form this season and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he can be involved.”

Calandagan is primed to build on runaway Royal Ascot victory.

It would be hard to argue with trainer Francis Graffard when he says that Calandagan is “ready for the next level”.

Owned and bred by the Aga Khan, Calandagan has won three of his four starts this season and was never more impressive than when last seen in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he swept through and went clear in the straight to win by six lengths.

Calandagan has been the subject of positive reports from connections in the build-up to this race and Graffard is bidding for another notable success in Britain, having also taken a big prize with Goliath in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last month.

Graffard said: “He’s in very good form. We gave him time after his win at Ascot and he’s back to his best form and ready to take his chance. He’s ready for the next level and we’ll see where we stand.

“The opposition is very strong, but I think York will suit him as it’s a big, galloping track with a long straight compared to somewhere like Deauville.”

Bluestocking team eager to compete in ‘one of the races of the season’
The depth of this year’s field is highlighted by Bluestocking, who lines up here rather than taking the potentially easier option of the Pertemps Yorkshire Oaks.

The Ralph Beckett-trained filly is owned by race sponsor Juddmonte, the operation founded by the late Khalid Abdullah and now jointly chaired by his sons Prince Fahad, Prince Ahmad and Prince Saud.

But while there is a family connection to the race, and record prize-money of £1.25 million, it is the challenge of taking on top-class horses that has been as much of a motivating factor as anything in opting for this contest, according to Barry Mahon, the owners’ racing manager.

“Several factors went into deciding to go for this race,” he said. “We discussed it with the owners last Friday. She’s a Group 1 winner at ten furlongs and was an impressive course-and-distance winner in May. She’s never won over a mile and a half despite running well several times at the distance.

“This is a special race for Juddmonte, it’s our flagship race, and it has record prize-money this year, so the owners were keen to be represented.

“It’s setting up to be one of the races of the season, if not the race of the season, and great credit has to go to the owners for being so sporting. She would have been 6-4 favourite for the Yorkshire Oaks and it would have been the easy thing, perhaps, to go there, but they breed and race horses to enjoy them competing in races like this. That’s why we’re looking forward to it so much.”

What they say:

Richard Hills, assistant racing manager to Shadwell Estates, owners of Alflaila and Israr: Alflaila loves York, as he’s proven before. He has definitely taken a step forward since his last race and Owen [Burrows] is really happy with him, so we couldn’t be more pleased. Israr loves fast ground and a fast pace, so there’s plenty to like in what is a very competitive race. It’s a race we like and he’s trained nicely into it.

Lisa Grund, media co-ordinator for OTI Racing, owners of Docklands: His form this season is terrific and he’s deserving of his place in a field of this quality. He’s finished second on all three runs this year and the three winners have all gone on to further success. We’re incredibly excited to see how he fares.

William Haggas, trainer of Maljoom: He’s a good horse and we’re stepping him up in trip, which will tell us plenty, and we’ll see if he gets it. It’s a competitive race but he deserves his place.

Jerome Reynier, trainer of Zarakem: A good pace looks likely with so many runners and that’s what he needs. I hope he can find a good trip from stall nine of 13, but with a long home straight he should have plenty of time to come from behind. He’s travelled over well and I’m hopeful.

Ruling Court has been tipped to win the Gr 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Picture: Godolphin)

At The Races

1 2:50 PM – Symphony Group Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
PILGRIM has gone from strength to strength this season and, given a rest since landing the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot, the son of Havana Grey should be primed for this assignment off an 8lb higher mark. The fact he has won here before is another plus. Goodwood scorer Shagraan and classy top-weight Democracy Dilemma feature on a long list of dangers, while Holkham Bay ran out a comfortable winner at the Shergar Cup meeting and must enter calculations. Last year’s third Jm Jungle and Silky Wilkie are just two more to consider.

Top Tip: Pilgrim (4)
Watch out for: Shagraan (8)

2 3:25 PM – Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3)
RULING COURT made as impressive a debut as any two-year-old this season when scoring at Sandown and the expensive son of Justify will have plenty more improvement forthcoming. He can land a first win in this contest for trainer Charlie Appleby en route to some loftier targets down the line. The penny dropped late on for The Lion In Winter, but he still comfortably saw off his rivals at the Curragh and appears the main danger to the selection. Taking Redcar winner Diablo Rojo is worth his place in the line-up, while Our Terms made all over 6f at Ascot and is another to consider.

Top Tip: Ruling Court (6)
Watch out for: The Lion In Winter (7)

3 4:00 PM – Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2)
With three in the field, including Queen’s Vase scorer Illinois, Aidan O’Brien is likely to make this a test of stamina that would suit Los Angeles. The Irish Derby winner has a 5lb penalty to carry, which will certainly make life tougher, and it may pay to side with KING’S GAMBIT. The improving Saxon Warrior colt was runner-up in a very strong renewal of the York Stakes here last month and has looked like a Group 1 performer in the making. It may be that the step up to 1m4f brings out the best in him.

Top Tip: King’s Gambit (5)
Watch out for: Los Angeles (1)

4 4:35 PM – Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
City Of Troy has been sent off favourite for each of his six career starts and has only had his colours lowered once, when flopping in the 2000 Guineas. The son of Justify bounced back in no uncertain terms when beating Ambiente Friendly in the Derby and followed that up with success in the Eclipse. However, his price once again reflects his chance, so he is taken on with ZARAKEM. The French raider outran big odds to produce a career-best effort when filling the runner-up spot behind Auguste Rodin in the Prince Of Wales’s at Royal Ascot, with Alflaila (fourth) and Royal Rhyme (fifth) behind. He proved he is versatile with regards to ground on that occasion and could gain his first success at the top level. Impressive King Edward VII winner Calandagan and gallant King George runner-up Bluestocking are others to note.

Top Tip: Zarakem (8)
Watch out for: City Of Troy (12)

5 5:10 PM – Sky Bet Stayers Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
Forza Orta has failed to reach the heights of his success in this contest last year but if he is judged on his penultimate effort, when sixth in the Northumberland Plate, he has every chance of retaining his crown. However, the less exposed IRON LION makes more appeal. David O’Meara’s four-year-old has improved 15lb since being gelded prior to his 2024 campaign and has shaped as if he would relish this step up in distance. Samui is a fascinating contender under Jamie Spencer and is another to keep an eye on.

Top Tip: Iron Lion (3)
Watch out for: Forza Orta (13)

6 5:45 PM – Visit Irish Yearling Sale With ITM Fillies’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
DESIGNER won this race in 2022 and staged a game repeat in a thrilling finish to last year’s renewal. The John Butler-trained five-year-old, who tries a first-time tongue-tie, might be the one to beat again on her belated seasonal debut/first run after wind surgery. Pepsi Cat was too keen to do herself justice at Ascot and should be capable of better, while Azure Angel drops out of Listed company and also appeals on her first start since undergoing a wind op. Miss Attitude and Got To Love A Grey are considered too.

Top Tip: Designer (1)
Watch out for: Pepsi Cat (5)

7 6:20 PM – Sky Bet Nursery
ARTAGNAN was the ready winner of a competitive nursery at Glorious Goodwood, accounting for Cayman Tai, and he is open to any amount of progression on just his second start in a race of this nature so is a highly appealing option in his bid to follow up. There are dangers aplenty and the likes of Scatter Penny, Handcuffed and It Ain’t Two are musts for the shortlist. Invited has been highly consistent so far and can provide some decent each-way value on his handicapping bow.

Top Tip: Artagnan (6)
Watch out for: Invited (8)

The Mike and Adam Azzie-trained  Oratorio filly Just The Two Of Us was an easy winner of the last race at Vaal Classic today and it gave Craig Zackey a double (JC Photos).

Gavin Lerena and Craig Zackey were the only two double scorers at the Vaal Classic track meeting today.

Lerena goes to eleven wins for the season at a strike rate of 28.21%.

This was Zackey’s first meeting of the season and is two wins have come at a strike rate of 33.33%.

Wikipedia:

Racing in York dates back to at least Roman times, with some archaeological evidence suggesting that there may have been equine activities that could have included forms of racing on the site of the Knavesmire as early as neolithic times. The city corporation is known to have given its support to the sport from 1530 and, in 1607, racing is known to have taken place on the frozen River Ouse, between Micklegate Tower and Skeldergate Postern. A famous yearly race for a golden bell was taking place in the nearby Forest of Galtres in 1590.

There is some uncertainty over when racing first arrived at the current site. The official stance of York Racecourse itself is that racing was first held on the Knavesmire when York’s race meeting was moved in 1730 from a previous site at Clifton Ings which was prone to flooding. This is the line taken by the early racing historian, Pick, who maintained that the first race run over the Knavesmire course was the King’s Guineas of 1731. There are multiple attestations to this previous racecourse at Clifton Ings, where racing can be traced back at least as far as 1709 and where, in 1714, “such was the concourse of nobility and gentry that attended York races that one hundred and fifty coaches were at one time on the course”. The uncertainty lies in the period 1709–1731 and on this, early sources are confusing.

Orton’s Turf Annals of York and Doncaster, which records the results of races at this time, has them taking place at “Clifton and Rawcliffe Ings” in the period 1709 and 1731 which would support the official view. However, Sheahan and Whellan, 19th century York historians, have racing taking place in both places in 1709 – “a regular race meeting on Clifton Ings” and, in the same year, a collection taking place among the citizens to purchase five plates as prizes for a meeting on the Knavesmire. Drake’s Eboracum, another early history, when talking of York’s races says, “Clifton-ings was for several years the place of trial; but upon a misunderstanding with the owner of that ground, or great part of it, the race was altered; and Knavesmire, a common pasture belonging to the city, was pitched upon for that purpose.” Since, Drake was writing in 1736, it is deemed unlikely that he would write in such a manner if the move to Knavesmire had been so recent. There is also some slight confusion arising from the running of Royal Cups at nearby Black Hambleton. A Royal Plate was raced for “at York” from 1711, but the Black Hambleton Cup was older still.

The Saunders & Co. History, using all these sources concludes “the races were held annually on both courses – at Clifton Ings previous to and for some years subsequent to the year 1709, and at Knavesmire at and from that date; and that most probably in or about the year 1731, the races were done away with at the former place and transferred to the latter.”

What is clear, whenever races were first run on the Knavesmire, is that York was the first centre after Newmarket to formulate a structured race programme, starting in 1751 with the Great Subscription Purses.

The Knavesmire course, as the name suggests, was often very swampy, and in 1776, heavy rains meant that horses had to race for about fifty yards up to their knees in water.

By the 19th century there were two main meetings at York – the Spring Meeting in May and another in August. These were supplemented by the Yorkshire Union Hunt Meeting in October, and a steeplechase meeting in April. At the August meeting in 1804 Alicia Thornton, who as a result has been called the “first female jockey”, took part in a horse race at the racecourse]] at Knavesmire.

At the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, the local military commander General Sir John Byng was absent because he had two horses running at York that day, and delegated command to his deputy, who failed to peacefully disperse the large crowd, resulting in 18 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

By the 1830s and 40s, support from noble families like the Fitzwilliams had dwindled and the continuance of the meeting was in jeopardy. Improvements in transportation had reduced the need for rural landowners to keep York townhouses so August race week in the city was no longer the occasion it was. Many races were reduced to matches or even walkovers.

On 31 May 1982, Pope John Paul II visited York racecourse and drew a reported audience of 190,000.

On 22 September 1984, the racecourse hosted its first music concert headlined by Echo & the Bunnymen. In recent years, concerts have been arranged after race meetings in June and July and since 2015 it has hosted the Yorfest.

The second day of the 2014 Tour de France started from the racecourse.