THE 2016 season at York Racecourse is under starter's orders today as the three-day Dante Festival begins a bumper summer of top quality racing on Knavesmire.

With a record investment of over £1m in prize money, excitement is building for the 17 raceday season ahead at the course.

Prize money over the three days of the Dante Festival has risen for the fifth year in succession, increasing by £45,000 this year to £1,120,000, with a Group Two on each day receiving a boost of £10,000 per race.

Today’s £100,000 Tattersalls Musidora is one of 18 races across the York season to offer a six figure sum to connections.

A feature race for three year old fillies, the Musidora has proved to be a leading form indicator for the Investec Oaks with six champion fillies that have gone on to achieve Classic glory.

Last year’s winner, Star of Seville, went on to land the French Oaks so becoming one of four classic winners that showcased their talents on Knavesmire in May 2015.

Typically, fillies from the Musidora return as older horses to contest the now £120,000 Group 2 Betfred Middleton Stakes on the Thursday.

The Betfred Dante, the race that gives the Festival its name by honouring the last Yorkshire trained winner of the Derby back in 1945, is staged tomorrow.

This Group Two contest, offering a prize fund of £160,000, was the highest rated three year old Group 2 in Britain in 2015 with the first two home, Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs, going on from York to land the English and Irish Derbys, respectively.

Last year also witnessed the inaugural running of a new Listed race – the British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes for three year old sprinters. This year it will offer enhanced prize money of £45,000 to those seeking to follow the Clive Cox trained, Profitable.

Friday’s principal race is The Betway Yorkshire Cup, now with £160,000 on offer to the leading stayers over one mile and three-quarters, a valuable and highly-rated Group Two ‘Cup’ race.

Friday’s renewal is part of the Qipco British Champions Series, the first of five York contests that are part of this special series of the top races in Britain.

David O’Meara, who has relocated to his new base near York at Warthill, is seeking a hat-trick of leading trainer titles at York this season with competition again looking set to be fierce for the Charles Clinkard backed Top Trainer Trophy.

Phillip Makin will be wanting to retain his leading rider title on the Knavesmire in the Living North Magazine Top Jockey Trophy.