YORK Racecourse supports 1,350 full-time jobs in the city and attracts more than 350,000 racegoers each year - but it also does far more for the community , say officials.

Only last month, it hosted the start of day two of The Grand Départ of the Tour de France, involving 198 professional riders, 80 vehicles in the publicity caravan, famous music artists, the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and some 25,000 visitors.

The course, which has entered for the best business and community link award, also steps in to help with a variety of other events, allowing York Cubs to hold their annual football gala in the Course Enclosure and Race for for Life to use its service road and carparks and, in 2012, it hosted the arrival of the Olympic Torch.

Spokeswoman Amy Swales says: "As an urban racecourse based in a relatively small city since 1731, positive links with our local community are important to us and we hope that we are not just linked with but are also part of the community.

"Over the years our community participation has grown from many roots; formal events, personal relationships, charity support, ad hoc support we volunteer in addition to professional relationships all make us part of the local community.

"As a key part of our community plan, we hold Macmillan Charity raceday during the season which is the biggest Charity raceday in Britain and Macmillan’s largest single fundraising event. This year the day raised in excess £350,000, the majority of which is spent in Yorkshire."

More than 3,000 students at various of stages learning have also been welcomed to the racecourse since 2006 as well as travelling to schools for presentations, and trestle tables are loaned to St.Leonard’s Hospice for fundraisers and to the Knavesmire Primary School for Summer and Christmas fairs.