York’s Ebor Festival 2025: The Knavesmire’s Grand Summer Theatre

From Wednesday 20 to Saturday 23 August, York Racecourse hosts the Ebor Festival, four days of elite racing defined by Group 1 excellence, deep handicaps, and atmosphere unlike anywhere else on the Flat calendar. With over £4 million in prize money and races that regularly shape the end-of-season honours lists, this is a meeting that blends tradition, precision and pressure.

The Knavesmire is often referred to as a "fair" course — galloping, left-handed, with a long home straight that encourages brave jockeyship and rarely produces hard-luck stories. But success at York isn't evenly spread. Some trainers and jockeys thrive here — and their records are worth studying closely.

Headline Races by Day

Wednesday (Day 1) – Juddmonte International Day

• G1 Juddmonte International Stakes (1m2½f) – A race with recent winners such as Baaeed, Roaring Lion and Frankel.

• G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes – Key St Leger trial.

• G3 Acomb Stakes – Two-year-old Group 3 won in the past by subsequent Group 1 performers like Phoenix of Spain and Chaldean.

Thursday – Ladies’ Day

• G1 Yorkshire Oaks (1m4f) – A top-class race for fillies and mares; past winners include Enable, Snowfall and Warm Heart.

• G2 Lowther Stakes – Premier 2yo sprint for fillies; often Royal Ascot form is tested.

Friday – Nunthorpe Day

• G1 Nunthorpe Stakes (5f) – The only Group 1 in the UK open to 2yo and older horses; legendary for its pace.

• Lonsdale Cup – A test for top stayers, often featuring stars from Goodwood and Ascot.

Saturday – Ebor Day

• Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (1m6f) – Europe’s richest flat handicap.

• G1 City of York Stakes – Newly upgraded to Group 1 in 2025, the 7f contest draws top older milers.

• Strensall Stakes and Melrose Handicap – Top contests in their own right.

Headline Runners

Juddmonte International

• Delacroix (Aidan O’Brien) – Eclipse winner and potential Irish Champion contender.

• Ombudsman (Appleby) – Lightly raced, progressive colt with big figures and a versatile style.

Yorkshire Oaks

• Minnie Hauk and Whirl (Aidan O'Brien) – The former boasts stamina, the latter gears.

Nunthorpe Stakes

• Lady Iman - impressive Glorious Goodwood winner, two-year-old

• Asfoora – High-class Australian mare who clocked world-class figures in home sprints.

Lonsdale Cup

• Trawlerman - Ascot Gold Cup winner

Ebor Handicap

• Hipop De Loire, Ethical Diamond (Willie Mullins) – Both respected from Ireland.

• London City (Aidan O’Brien) – Lightly raced colt with a huge engine, drawn support in the market.

Trainers to Follow at the Ebor Festival
Data: 2019–2024, York Ebor Festival only.

John & Thady Gosden:

• 34 runners / 10 winners / 29% strike rate

Aidan O’Brien:

• 41 runners / 9 winners / 22% strike rate

William Haggas:

• 51 runners / 9 winners / 18% strike rate

Charlie Appleby:

• 30 runners / 6 winners / 20% strike rate

Richard Fahey:

• 69 runners / 8 winners / 12% strike rate

Jockeys with Strong York Festival Records

Ryan Moore:

• 7 wins at the Ebor Festival since 2019.

James Doyle:

• Superb tactician on the Knavesmire.

Tom Marquand:

• Strong across handicaps and pattern races

William Buick:

• Regular success for Appleby and Godolphin

The Ebor Festival isn't just about a handicap on Saturday — it's a four-day test of excellence, where pedigrees, pace judgement, and form depth all come under the microscope. Whether it’s the International Stakes on Wednesday or the Melrose on Saturday, York has it all.