THE hacks are hostile but Nicholas Wrigley is the epitome of composure. In the press room at York Racecourse, the chair of Knavesmire’s committee is fending off barb after barb as the reality sets in – the four-day Ebor Festival has been called off.

August is a long time ago.

But as question and answers sessions go, the sparring ritual could prove perfect practice for Wrigley as he prepares to take the reins as senior steward at the Jockey Club.

He will succeed Oaks-winning owner-breeder Julian Richmond-Watson on July 1 next year, putting the seal on a rapid rise through racing’s hierarchy.

By day a managing director of investment bankers NM Rothschild, Wrigley only joined York Race Committee in the early 1990s after being asked to do so.

Elected to the Jockey Club in 1994, Wrigley became chairman of York Race Committee after Lord Halifax stepped down following Royal Ascot at York in 2005 and, a year later, he became a Jockey Club steward.

Now for the man who is also a director of Pontefract Racecourse, one of the summits of the sport awaits.

“It is a great honour so I am delighted,” he said. “It is early days at the moment and I need to spend some time preparing for it. The appointment doesn’t begin until July – that’s half a lifetime away – so it is a bit premature to get into it.

“It (being appointed) was discussed in advance so one has got an inkling it is coming. A steward is a non-executive role. You are involved with the strategy and the implications of that strategy.

“Obviously, it is a secondary role compared to that of the senior steward and you are supporting him and the management.”

Wrigley’s tenure at York, and Pontefract, will continue. “Everyone is happy with the arrangement”, he says, and that is the ideal solution for the 52-year-old, who is deeply passionate about Knavesmire.

He will head an organisation with more than 250 years of history behind it – a body which seeks to serve racing’s long-term interests while promoting the quality in the sport.

“I very much love my racing. I am heavily involved at York and at Pontefract and that won’t change,” Wrigley said. “I have been involved with York since the early 90s.

“I was asked to join the committee and they knew of my interest in racing. I took over as chairman just after the Royal Meeting in 2005.

“Holding Royal Ascot and the St Leger (in 2006) has only served to increase York’s profile. We have great facilities and, being a non-profit organisation, everything goes back into the racing which means we can provide great prize money and attract great horses.”

There is much to look forward to.

Barring another act of God, and a £2.5 million drainage project on Knavesmire will do its best to keep divine intervention at bay, the highlight of next season will be four days of Ebor magnificence in August – franked by the May Meeting and the summer spectacular of John Smith’s Cup Day in July.

But after the splendour of Royal Ascot, the glory of the St Leger, the spectre of fire and floods and the Ebor washout, Wrigley is hoping 2009 will prove to be more sedate in the Minster city.

“It was frustrating for everyone – cooped up with no racing,” he said of the criticism which came the racecourse’s way when York’s centrepiece was cancelled last August.

“I was relieved that we had already instigated the track project. That is going well and we have finished the work on the racing surface. I am confident it will look fantastic for the start of the season in May.”

Wrigley added: “It would be nice to have a drama-free year. In the last two years, there have been two abandonments and I can’t remember that happening before.

“York is fantastic racecourse. We have great support from locals and across the whole of Yorkshire. There is a great team. It is a real pleasure to be there.”