YORK Racecourse chief William Derby today thanked the city's people, saying they had been crucial to Knavesmire "landing" Royal Ascot in 2005.

Mr Derby, chief executive of the racecourse, said he was convinced the enthusiastic response from residents to the prospect of hosting the five-day festival, which attracts more than 300,000 race-goers, had impressed Ascot officials.

The Berkshire racecourse announced on Saturday that York had been chosen to hold the society event while it undergoes a two-year £180 million redevelopment.

The decision, announced by Ascot chief executive Douglas Erkskine-Crum, sparked immediate Ascot fever in York, with punters immediately inquiring about tickets and hotel rooms.

Mr Erksine-Crum said York would hold the meeting in 2005 as long as Ascot received planning permission to start the main phase of its revamp in October, 2004. If that was delayed, the festival would then be staged in York in 2006.

Mr Derby said work to ensure York was ready to hold the Royal Meeting, which attracts more than 60,000 visitors each day, was already being planned.

He revealed that plans to extend the race-track - making it a full circle - would be submitted.

There would be major plans to upgrade and extend the Silver Ring area, which could almost double the number of spectators in that area of the course and allow York to increase its capacity to match that of Ascot.

Meetings would take place with the police and the council to look at a new traffic management system, allowing the racecourse to cope with the huge Royal Meeting crowds. This would also be opened up to full consultation.

Mr Derby said: "We are delighted with this announcement, not just for the racecourse, but for the city as a whole.

"We told Ascot that everyone in the region was really enthusiastic, and we are convinced this helped our bid to be successful. This has given us a great boost ahead of the Ebor Festival."

York beat off competition from Newbury, Cheltenham and Newmarket to be chosen to hold the festival, which will be called Royal Ascot York and will start on June 14.

York will stage its own meetings in the 2005 season so race-goers will continue to enjoy the Ebor Festival, May Meeting and John Smith's Cup. But the Timeform Charity day will not take place.

Updated: 11:20 Monday, August 11, 2003