YORK Racecourse is gearing up to welcome huge crowds next week for its flagship meeting, the Ebor Festival.

The four-day festival, from Wednesday to Saturday, will offer record prize money approaching £5 million, and looks set to attract some of the top rated thoroughbreds in the world to the racecourse.

The opening day will feature the Juddmonte International, which is the richest race run at York, with £1 million on offer.

On Ladies Day on Thursday, The Darley Yorkshire Oaks, ranked last year as Britain’s highest-rated contest for fillies and mares, is the £350,000 feature.

Friday’s racing action will include the Coolmore Nunthorpe, which could offer a potential showdown between the world’s highest-rated sprinter, Battaash, and Blue Point, the winner of the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot; this pair and most likely 18 others, competing for the £350,000 purse.

The feature contest on Saturday will be the Ebor which will be the joint richest flat handicap in Europe with prize money of £500,000.

On all four days, stand-side racegoers will be able to watch and participate in the Ebor Fashion Lawn by registering before 2.30pm. The eye-catching, flower-clad catwalk, set in the picturesque surroundings in front of the Edwardian Weighing Room, will offer a touch of ‘modern vintage’. A panel of judges will decide who is the Best Dressed Racegoer each day.

On the opening and closing day of the four-day meeting at 1.30pm, parachute display teams are set to drop in. Over the four days, there will be lots of food and drink available, as well as musical entertainment. William Derby, chief executive and clerk of the course, said the festival “is simply the highlight of our year.” He added: “This year looks set to be a landmark event of top quality racing action as well as a tremendous social and fashion event.”