THERE will be record prize money once again at York Racecourse's Ebor Festival this summer - with an increase this year of more than a quarter of a million pounds and the Juddmonte International becoming the richest race ever run on Knavesmire.

As the first stage of entries for the Group 2 races at the festival are published, the track has confirmed prize money of more than £4million for the four-day centrepiece of the season for Flat racing in the North.

The increase of £260,000 on last year is spread over 15 races - with the feature contest on each of the days receiving a boost, as well as the prize money threshold for all races rising by a fifth to £60,000.

It marks another step in York’s support for its flagship race programme, which has seen prize money increase by 50 per cent over the last five years.

The Welcome to Yorkshire-sponsored festival takes place from Wednesday, August 17 to Saturday, August 20.

The Group 1 Juddmonte - Britain’s highest rated race according to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities - will have £900,000 on offer to the horse seeking to follow such superstars as Frankel and Sea The Stars into the winner’s enclosure on the opening day.

Boosts in prize money of £50,000 to both the £200,000 Group 2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Stakes (2m) and recently upgraded £150,000 Sky Bet City of York Stakes (7f) – now the richest Group 3 race run in Britain - support the enhanced Group 1 contests of the Thursday and Friday respectively.

The Darley Yorkshire Oaks, on the Thursday, and the Coolmore Nunthorpe, on the Friday, have both seen increases to reach their richest ever renewals at £340,000.

Completing the feature race set is Saturday’s Betfred Ebor, as Europe’s richest flat handicap, at £280,000.

Other highlights include the £220,000 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes, which remains Britain’s richest juvenile Group 2 colts race, and the £200,000 Sky Bet Lowther, which is the richest equivalent for fillies.

At £60,000 apiece, each of the Betway Nursery Handicap, the European Breeders’ Fund Convivial, and the Betfred Apprentice Stakes are the richest nursery handicap, maiden and apprentice races respectively in Britain.

First stage entries for the £160,000 Betway Great Voltigeur now total 49, which represents a five-year high and nine ahead of the initial number of last year, which culminated in a pulsating finish between Storm The Stars and Bondi Beach, a duo that went on to be joint favourites for the St Leger.

York will stage 19 races this year with the backing of the European Breeders’ Fund, including three at this feature festival.