YORK Racecourse is set to smash its previous record attendance for a season tomorrow.

As a three-day meeting began today, course bosses revealed that the current best of 265,183 paying punters, set in 2001, was "almost certain" to be beaten.

The total for 2003 currently stands at 250,475.

Course marketing manager James Brennan said the hot weather and new facilities, including the Ebor Stand, had all played their part in the success.

He revealed that the number of racegoers had already risen by 11 per cent compared with last year.

"If we get our usual quota of between 7,000 and 8,000 people today and tomorrow then we will have beaten the record," Mr Brennan said.

"The new stand has certainly helped, but we've seen growth in many other areas of the course and individual records have also been beaten.

"It's clearly becoming more and more popular. Racing as a whole is undergoing a resurgence."

York Racecourse is scheduled to hold the prestigious five-day Royal Ascot meeting of society, royalty and horse racing in either 2005 or 2006 when Ascot undergoes its huge transformation.

More than 300,000 people are expected to flock to Knavesmire over the five days, with the city anticipating a tourism and economic boom.

"Obviously we're looking forward to staging Royal Ascot," Mr Brennan added.

"It has kept us in the headlines and created a level of curiosity."

The season will be rounded off on Saturday with the last big race of the season, the Coral.co.uk Sprint Trophy.

Updated: 11:03 Thursday, October 09, 2003