A new pub named after one of the most famous jockeys ever to ride at York will be unveiled as the three-day Dante Festival kick starts the York Racecourse season.
Wednesday’s opening day will see the launch of ‘The Flying Frankie’, a Theakston’s-backed cask ale pub, named after legendary Italian rider Frankie Dettori.
Found at the southern end of the John Carr Terrace for County Stand racegoers, it will be stocked with a selection of ales from Theakston’s North Yorkshire brewery.
Among them will be an IPA beer created especially for the Knavesmire racegoer – Ebor IPA. The guest ale will be on sale at both The Flying Frankie and the Theakston Bar in Grandstand and Paddock, costing £5.90 a pint.
The racecourse’s new look continues with the main restaurant in the Grandstand and Paddock being given a new name – the York Kitchen & Café.
Signature dishes will follow the local theme, including as deep filled Yorkshire puddings.
The racecourse also plans to speed up the food service at the John Carr Terrace, and a new menu that includes the York Philly Sandwich.
And this season, on the Champagne Lawns, you can now use QR codes to order drinks to your table.
Record prizes
There’s a record investment across the 18-day season of £10.75m in prize money in 2023 – up £750,000 on last year.
Prize money over the three days of the Dante Festival alone is £1.425m, meaning a near six-figure increase on 2022, with every race worth £25,000 or more.
All admission prices on the day at the Dante Festival have been frozen at their 2022 rate, meaning admission to the Clocktower Enclosure remains just £8.
At the Dante Festival on Thursday and Friday, racegoers will get their first chance to meet the equine ambassador to the Knavesmire, Remy.
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Now aged 14, the retired racehorse will be better known to fans of the sport as Goldream, the dual Group One winning sprinter for Robert Cowell.
Set to visit across the season, he will showcase the work of New Beginnings, a local charity that helps horses with new careers once their racing days have drawn to a close.
York will be supporting Racing Welfare in its Mental Health Awareness week activity, with a particular focus on the opening day.
Find out more about the Dante Festival and the rest of the year’s meetings on the York Racecourse website.
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