Thank you for your enduring support of York Racecourse as County Stand Annual Badgeholders as we look forward to, hopefully, more “normal conditions” for racing over the months ahead.
It was our pleasure to welcome back so many of you for our five racedays held so far this season under the “Step 3” protocols. We were delighted that our Annual Badgeholders were among the lucky few who could enjoy racing on the Knavesmire while we were restricted to just 4,000 attendees. The below note is to brief you of the arrangements for racing at the Music Showcase Meeting and some information ahead of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.
As you will be aware, the formal Covid-19 legislative restrictions ended on Monday 19 July, meaning that the remainder of the York season looks set to operate in a far more familiar, effectively “normal” manner. The first racedays to benefit from the lifting of protocols are Friday evening 23 July (featuring a performance by Rick Astley after racing) and Saturday 24 July (McFLY). Please be aware that both racedays will be busy, involve more normal York raceday attendance, and feature live music performances - with a standing audience in front of the stage.
As the Prime Minister stressed, the coming weeks will require a significant degree of personal responsibility. Our recommendation is that all racegoers, including Annual Badgeholders, voluntarily do a self-administered Lateral Flow Test on the day of, or on the day before, racing for their own peace of mind. Please do not put your fellow racegoers at risk by travelling if you feel unwell.
The Government guidance around “hands, face, space, fresh air” remains appropriate advice to all individuals attending a raceday. York Racecourse will provide plenty of hand sanitiser, guidance and signage around the racecourse to support this advice. As you well know, we are blessed with plenty of outdoor spaces for all racegoers to enjoy their raceday in the fresh air and have well ventilated grandstands. Government guidance to individuals regarding face coverings is that these are advisable when indoors or in a busy area. Please be aware that this is Government guidance to individuals, so, as a venue, we recommend racegoers wear a facing covering when moving around inside our grandstands or in a busy area. To make you aware, we will not be mandating racegoers to wear face coverings when inside or in busy areas – rather it is encouraged and recommended. Our close contact team, such as those in the restaurants or in busy indoors positions, will be asked to wear a face covering.
Given the forecast for an extended spell of fine weather, the normal York Racecourse dress code for County Stand racegoers has been amended. For 23 & 24 July only, gentlemen in the County Stand are expected to wear a collared shirt and tie - no jacket is required.
Wider Government advice and best practice, as applicable at the time of the racedays, will be followed, as required. Keep an eye on the website for the updated Code of Conduct and Experience Guide. However, please find a summary below of the key points for our Annual Badgeholders.
Your car park remains as D Car Park and entrance to the Racecourse remains via the County Stand Marble Entrance (the white pillared main entrance). Your complimentary racecard will be issued here - although you can download a digital version of the racecard the evening before the raceday from our website. Please have your photocard ready for scanning at the entrance – this is vital for your admission alongside your metal badge.
As formal social distancing and table service measures have ended, the site will be operating along more familiar lines, so Annual Badgeholders retain both the Nunthorpe Suite on an exclusive basis and the Frankel Lawn with Owners. The Dante Suite will be available on both days, for your use and that of the Day Badgeholders in County Stand.
For the same reason, service at the bar will return to its traditional style, though cashless payment will remain an easy option.
A date for your diary - as we look forward to the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival - the plan (subject, of course, to the prevailing Government protocols) is for the Ebor Preview Evening to return “in person”, at 6.30pm on Tuesday 17 August at York Racecourse. Our partners at Sky Bet will help the expert panel preview the racing ahead. It is always a fun evening, complete with a casual supper, and, as places are limited and allocated on a first reversed basis, please let me know if you want to book.
Please see our website and digital channels for news regarding the race programme, stories regarding runners targeting races and all the information regarding the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.
As ever, further details about the Music Showcase racedays, and the season thereafter, will be published on the website and on our social media channels.
For now, we continue to wish everyone the very best of health and we very much look forward to seeing you racing on the Knavesmire in the coming weeks.
Yours Sincerely,
Debbie Shirt Annual Badgeholder Secretary Email: [email protected] Tel Direct: 01904 683936