OVER the next three days more than 35,000 people are expected to descend upon York Racecourse as the Dante festival gets under way today, marking the start of the 2017 racing season.

In a year when bosses hope to attract 360,000 visitors, up from the 347,000 recorded last year, the venue’s economic contribution to the city is once again primed to be good going.

Whether a fan of racing or not, the 286-year-old venue’s role in the York business community cannot be argued, with activity and investment ongoing well beyond the 18 meetings in the calendar.

As last-minute preparations for the opening day of the Dante hastily started last week, members of York Professionals were hosted in the racecourse’s new Parade Ring Restaurant, where they heard the extend of the Racecourse’s value to the city.

What was once a glacial lake in the divensian ice age is now home to an internationally award winning racecourse, contributing in excess of £60 million to York economy.

James Brennan, marketing manager at the Racecourse said: “On a busy day the race day team will be 2,381, ranging from roles you would expect such as up to 60 chefs and four doctors on one day, to some you might not. For example we have a lift engineer on site for every race meet, just in case we have a problem with the lifts. We also have someone from Northern Electric on site for every meet.

“The racecourse contributes £58 million a year to York’s economy based on research by Sheffield Hallam University in 2009. That figure is probably well over the £60 million a year mark now.”

Receiving record turnover in 2015 after hitting £20.5 million, York Racecourse re-invests profits in facilities, prize money and visitor experience, boasting an investment of more than £75 million over the last 25 years in fixed facilities.

This year the course will offer owners, trainers and jockeys a record £7.7 million in prize money over 18 race days, one more day than last year, with £1.2 million up for grabs over the next three days at the Dante, where every race is worth more than £20,000.

In terms of reinvesting in the facilities, the Racecourse has just completed a £10 million redevelopment of its northern end, which included the construction of the new weighing room, along with the Parade Ring Restaurant and Moët Pavilion as well as a champagne bar.

The Grade II listed John Carr building, which dates back to 1754 and is the oldest operational grandstand of any sporting venue in the world, was also refurbished, while a new pre-parade ring was installed, along with modern saddling boxes and vet treatment areas. Next, the development spotlight is being shone on the Course Enclosure, which has been earmarked for a £4 million project to bring damp and flood-prone facilities up to scratch and overhaul historic buildings on the site.

The racecourse has made a formal planning application to revamp the open air area inside the track - the most informal part of the racecourse, which welcomes 60,000 visitors a year.

If it gets planners’ backing, the major overhaul will be ready for the 2018 racing season and will include new toilet blocks, better access for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and the refurbishment of the listed historic Clocktower building.

Mr Brennan said: “We’re aiming for it to be ready for the 2018 season. We’ve earmarked £4 million for it.

“It won’t pay for itself but it’s all about keeping the family enclosure that generations have come to love.”

With the northern end redevelopment being completed by construction company Lindum York, and advised on by Langleys Solicitors in the city, and the new Course Enclosure designs being drawn up a York firm of architects, the Racecourse has set a strong precedent for “shopping local”.

The Racecourse’s Theakstons Bar stocks three craft ales from York brewery Ainsty Ales.

And racegoers can enjoy local pies from Ged Bells butchers in Dringhouses.

The racecourse is also served by gigabit fibre, installed by York Data Services, and the brick for its latest development came from the York Handmade Brick Company, based at Alne, near Easingwold.