AND they're off. The race to land Royal Ascot 2005 is underway, and York has been installed as the 3-1 favourite.

It is impressive that York is making the early running. Out of the frontrunners, which include other great racing names such as Newmarket, Goodwood and Cheltenham, York is the only one which would require the society set to decamp up north.

Racecourse bosses, ably marshalled by chief executive and former Ascot man William Derby, have begun preparing the ground. They hosted a team from the Berkshire course during Knavesmire's May meeting.

It is hard to imagine they left unimpressed. The setting of York Racecourse, the magnificent new stand, spirit of the crowd, quality of service and standard of sport are second-to-none.

Now we need the rest of the city to support the racecourse's endeavours. This is the York equivalent of a nation trying to land an Olympic Games: success would bring untold benefits, so it is worth pulling out the stops to make ours the best bid.

York races are already the city's biggest sporting events. A northern Ascot would be like the best ever Ebor Day and then some.

We would welcome back the Queen and her entourage to the city. A whole new clientele, those well-heeled families who attend the events collectively known as the Season, would be introduced to the wonders of York and North Yorkshire, and might become hooked.

Every hotel room would be filled, every restaurant and pub packed.

Television cameras would beam pictures of York in the July sunshine around the world, providing exposure that money cannot buy.

But forget the guaranteed cash bonanza and kudos. York should aim to host Ascot for the fun of it. A spectacular summer party like this would reinvigorate the whole city.

We hope the council, tourist bosses and businesses will back York Racecourse to the hilt, and help bring Royal Ascot to Knavesmire. Then everyone would be a winner.

Updated: 10:30 Thursday, June 05, 2003