YORK Racecourse has lost its regional crown as its average daily attendance figures have fallen behind those of a rival northern racecourse for the first time.

But Knavesmire bosses deny that Chester's racecourse has stolen their hard-won position as the "Ascot of the North".

The Racecourse Association has revealed that York attracted an average race day crowd of 17,405 last season, while the Roodee, at Chester, leapt ahead with 17,844.

The figures see York falling to the fifth most popular racing venue in the country, behind Chester, Cheltenham, Ascot and Aintree.

James Brennan, of York Racecourse, said overall gate receipts had also suffered a dip of about 4,000 racegoers from 2001, the highest attendance since the Second World War.

But the marketing manager said 261,000 visitors were still attracted to York last year over 15 days of racing, despite a number of disrupting factors. The ongoing £20 million construction of the Ebor Stand, a clash with an England World Cup football international and bad weather had all affected crowd numbers, he said.

"We will leave it to the customers to decide what their favourite racecourse is and we will continue to work hard to hold our place in the city's unique culture and heritage," he added. Ellie Wheeler, of the Chester Race Company, said staff were delighted with the course's recent success which was down to hard work and careful planning.

She said: "There is no slight whatsoever on York. All we have managed to do is increase our attendance in the surrounding region by staging theme race days and marketing to them"

Meanwhile, chief executive Richard Thomas said: "It's a feather in the cap for the city of Chester that the racecourse has achieved such a prestigious national profile."

A spokeswoman for the Racecourse Association, the trade body for Britain's 59 racecourses, said York remained an extremely popular course, which had deservedly received a number of accolades. She said: "Both courses have their own unique identity, fantastic atmosphere and beautiful locations. It is not a question of one venue stealing visitors from another."

Last year the Racegoers Club and members of the Racehorse Owners' Association named York as their racecourse of the year.

Updated: 10:33 Monday, February 17, 2003