ROYALTY was on hand at York Racecourse as the highlight of the May Meeting reached its climax on Knavesmire.

But it was not the Queen checking out the course before Royal Ascot at York that drew the galleries to the gallops.

Instead Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, was in the city to follow the progress of one of his animals in Dante Day's key race.

Heading a huge entourage, the Sheikh and his followers inspected Rule of Law, before it finished a narrow second in the Dante Stakes.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa and former Leeds boss David O'Leary was trying to pick winners, along with Villa assistant boss Roy Aitken.

Before proceedings got under way, Mr O'Leary, who this season led Villa to the brink of the Champions League, said he was looking forward to a "good day out" at Knavesmire.

With a crowd of about 16,000 enjoying a sunny afternoon, the hat brigade were out in full force. Among them, wearing a pink number she bought in the city, was Claire Wilson, of Layerthorpe, York, who was celebrating her 28th birthday. She said: "I have brought a lot of money with me today and I am hoping for a few good wins."

Firmly fixed at the Winning Post in all their finery were York trio Laura Harrison, Katherine Dealtry and Rachel Bailey.

Rachel said she had hired her hat especially for Dante Day from Felicity Hat Hire, in Clarence Street, York.

"We have all got the day off work and obviously we want a few wins. We are determined to have a great day out," she said.

In the Knavesmire Stand, Andrew Roberts, of Leeds, said he was enjoying the day. "I try to be a regular at York," he said. "I am having a good day out with some friends."

With the crowds filling the Champagne Lawn, there was little to do for the sweets and ice cream vendors dotted around Knavesmire.

While most kept betting slips firmly in hand, pity the poor punter who was a bit presumptuous during the Hambleton Racing Stakes.

Only a lack of foresight can explain why he ripped up his betting slip and threw it into a trackside bin before his horse Autumn Glory stormed to victory.

The man concerned spent ten minutes in a waste paper bin and enlisted the help of a couple of passers-by to try and find the torn up pieces.

Eventually, he gave up and, clutching half the slip, walked off to the betting shop muttering: "I hope they pay out".

William Derby, clerk of the course and chief executive at York, said: "Crowds were up 5 per cent on last year. It was a fantastic day's racing with an exciting atmosphere and we are looking forward to a great final day today."

Updated: 10:52 Thursday, May 13, 2004