SMOKING will be banned inside York Racecourse's £20 million Ebor stand, course chiefs have revealed.

Racecourse bosses have decided that smoking should only be allowed on the new facilities' outside areas and terraces.

The decision was taken in a move following the "barometer of public opinion" and has received a "favourable response" from people booking for the new Ebor restaurant.

York Racecourse chief executive and clerk of the course William Derby said there would still be a "huge number" of places to smoke at the course and insisted the decision was not part of a "moral crusade".

Marketing director James Brennan said he knew that some customers would react negatively to the smoking ban. But he said: "We have been transparent about this throughout and the response we have had from people booking is that they want it this way."

Mr Brennan added that the stand, with floor-to-ceiling glass views, would be open in time for the opening day of the Dante meeting, on May 13. The building was officially handed over to York Racecourse last week and work is now under way to fit fixtures and fittings.

Mr Brennan also unveiled a brand new ticketing and information system to help racegoers get advance tickets for meetings this year. RABITS, or the Racecourse Advanced Booking Ticketing Information System, is an online booking service, which will allow racegoers to receive personalised tickets and beat the race day rush. It can be accessed at the website www.yorkracecourse.co.uk

Mr Brennan said: "It is allowing us to improve our customer service in a wide variety of ways, as it not only improves our efficiency in handling ticket applicationsm but frees-up a good deal of staff time which can now be spent on other aspects of our operations."

Mr Derby also revealed that York Races had held meetings with officials at Ascot as tentative plans to hold Royal Ascot in 2005 were developed. York Racecourse is in the frame to host the event if redevelopment work at Ascot forces the five-day festival away from its traditional Berkshire home.

He said: "We have held meetings with the Ascot team and we are hugely encouraged by the initial reaction and support for this project."

Updated: 11:03 Wednesday, April 30, 2003