THE rain stayed away, but the crowds did not as the fourth Evening Press-sponsored Sunday race day took place in York.

Hen parties, birthday groups and families mingled with racing fanatics on Knavesmire to enjoy an afternoon of thrills and excitement. More than 21,200 people turned up yesterday to see some thrilling riding, including a four-way photo finish in the third of seven races.

Queen Charlotte, trained by Kate Walton, also romped home at 50-1 in the fourth race - her first race at York

William Derby, clerk of the course and chief executive of York Racecourse, said the day had a "fantastic atmosphere" despite weather forecasts that promised rain.

He said: "We had a really good crowd in, we had wonderful weather despite the forecasts, and we had some really exciting racing. We had a four-way photo finish in the third race, which is very unusual. That was won by King Harson, who has a Yorkshire owner, Chris Burley.

"Obviously there was lots going on and everybody seemed to really enjoy the different activities.

"There were lots of families, lots of children and lots of people who looked like they had come racing for the first time, so it was really successful.

"To be honest, it was a big year last year, so we didn't expect to get so many people, but to get more than last year, including so many children, was great - they are the racegoers of the future."

One future racing fan was seven-month-old Charles Moseley, of Stockton-on-the-Forest, who was visiting the course for the first time with his parents, Simon and Joy, and his grandmother, Barbara Austin.

Joy said: "I used to go to the races when I was five, so I wanted to get him started young. My mum, dad and grandfather were very into racing and it was something we enjoyed as a family."

Also enjoying the atmosphere of the course were eight-month-old twins Charlie and Georgie Tolley, with their parents, Michael and Andrea.

The family travelled from Kirkby, West Yorkshire, to place some bets and introduce the youngest members to the sport.

Course spokesman James Brennan said: "What was nice to see was more people coming to the stands and getting involved. "In other years lots of people had picnics, and of course some were still doing that, but more people were getting involved in the day."

Nail-biting finishes and some late summer sun were not the only things on the agenda for fundraisers for the Marie Curie Dublin Dash.

The Only Fools And Horses Team, who are taking part in the hitchhiking event to Dublin on September 19, got more than they bargained for when the jockeys came out to examine their mascot horse.

Updated: 10:54 Monday, September 08, 2003