RECORD numbers of punters are expected for this year's Ebor Festival, which began today.

Bookings for York's landmark meeting, which runs until Thursday, have already topped last year's record numbers.

Now bookings have been received from more than 21,200 people, up more than 500 on the previous record of 20,700.

The highest increase is for Ladies Day on Thursday, which is showing particular growth with bookings up more than ten per cent on the equivalent figure last year.

This year's racegoers will be subject to experimental traffic planning put in place to try to keep York's roads free of traffic during next year's Royal Ascot at York.

A key part of the plans involves directing all those racegoers who travel by car and coach along the A64.

Course chief executive William Derby said: "We hope the unprecedented demand indicates the 2004 festival will be the best ever.

Among the non-racing related attractions at this year's festival will be the display of the Jaguar R-D6 concept car, and a life-size driftwood sculpture of a horse, on loan from Newby Hall, near Ripon.

The driftwood sculpture, created by Heather Jansch, and named Paris, is on sale for £27,000 and is one of 60 exhibits on show at Newby Hall until September 26.

Visitors to this year's festival will also benefit from the 50 course improvement projects completed since the meeting 12 months ago, including a new betting shop, the refurbishment of the Gimcrack Restaurant and improved course catering.

Updated: 10:45 Tuesday, August 17, 2004