Style to set hearts racing (From York Press)

Style to set hearts racing

8:43am Wednesday 11th May 2011 in Claudia Lawrence By Julie Hayes, Business editor

FASHION and form will be to the fore today as the Dante Festival marks the start of the 2011 season at York Racecourse.

Getting into the spirit of the occasion were staff at department store Browns of York, who modelled raceday attire ahead of a fashion show and make-up demonstration in support of the city’s St Leonard’s Hospice.

At Knavesmire today, Peter Lawrence, the father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence, is to address race-goers in the parade ring at 12.45pm, before the first race at 1.30pm, with an appeal for information.

There will also be a poster of Claudia inside each race card. This follows on from the 2009 Dante Festival, when Mr Lawrence left a space for Claudia at his lunch table as she was meant to be there.

City of York Council has again formed a partnership between York bus operators First, Transdev and York Pullman so they accept each others’ tickets on the regular shuttle buses between York Railway Station and the racecourse.

• The VIP evening for St Leonard’s Hospice is at Browns on Wednesday, June 8, from 6pm to 9pm.

Numbers are limited to 50. Tickets cost £10 each, and can be ordered from the hospice’s fundraising office by phoning 01904 777777.