Well it knows a thing or two about winning. And York Racecourse triumphed at the White Rose Awards, taking the gong for Tourism Event of the Year.
The event in question was “The best race in the world – the Juddmonte International”, the August showstopper race which this year was won by a 50-1 outsider, Arabian Queen.
It caps a brilliant season for the racecourse. More than 360,000 racegoers – an increase of 9% over the previous year – attended, while the prize pot reached a record £6.7 million.
The transformation of the northern end of the racecourse was completed with the opening of the Northern End Development, the new Moët Pavilion won Best Bar on a UK Racecourse and Lady Cecil unveiled the wonderful Sir Henry Cecil Gates that stand close by the first ever equine statue at York, a bronze of the mighty Frankel.
Gary Barlow acclaimed ‘honorary Yorkshireman’ at awardsOther winners on the night included Forbidden Corner, the wonderfully strange and fun labyrinth of tunnels, follies and surprises in the Yorkshire Dales.
It claimed the Large Visitor Attraction Award, while Burton Agnes Hall and Gardens near Driffield took the small visitor attraction honour.
Humble Bee Farm at Flixton, near Scarborough, won the Holiday Village Award, while the Black Swan at Helmsley was Large Hotel of the Year.
Meanwhile, York’s Bedern Hall was highly commended in the Business Tourism Awards category.
All the winners for 2015
Burton Agnes Hall and Gardens
Large Visitor Attraction Award
The Forbidden Corner
Taste of Yorkshire Award
Lottie Shaw’s Bakery
Self Catering, Cruisers & Serviced Apartments Award
The Dovecote Barns
Yorkshire Pub of the Year Award
Shibden Mill Inn
Yorkshire Restaurant of the Year Award
The Hare Restaurant
Tourism Event of the Year Award
The Juddmonte International
Caravan Holiday Park & Holiday Village Award
Humble Bee Farm
Low Mill Guesthouse
Large Hotel of the Year Award
The Black Swan Helmsley
Small Hotel of the Year Award
Yorebridge House
Business Tourism Award
The Coniston Hotel & Country Estate
Restaurant with Rooms of the Year Award
The Cleveland Tontine
Visitor Information Award
Thirsk Tourist Information Centre
Arts & Culture Award
Hull Truck Theatre
Outstanding Customer Service Award
Wentbridge House Team