York races away with top course title
YORK Racecourse has been voted Racecourse of the Year 2009 by members of the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA).
The prestigious awards dinner, now in its 28th year, was held last Thursday at London’s Park Lane Hilton and celebrates the star horses of the season with Sea The Stars was named Sportingbet.com Horse of the Year.
The Derby winning colt also won York’s most valuable race, the Juddmonte International on a memorable day at the Ebor Festival. Further Yorkshire success came for Wetherby based Borderlescott, already acknowledged as the fastest horse at York, after winning the Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, the Robin Bastiman trained colt picked up the title of Outstanding Sprinter at the ROA Awards.
Michael Harris, chief executive of the Racehorse Owners Association, said: “It comes as no surprise that our members have chosen York as their ‘racecourse of the year’ for 2009, and we offer everyone at The Knavesmire our hearty congratulations. York is a superb racecourse and is one that provides outstanding prize-money and excellent facilities for racehorse owners.”
“York is held in high regard across the whole horse racing industry and has already been given the ROA Gold Standard, which is an award that recognises overall excellence in the raceday experience not only for owners, but also for their horses and the stable staff of their trainers.”
William Derby, chief executive and clerk of the course at York, said: ”We are thrilled and honoured to be voted ‘Racecourse of the Year 2009’ by members of 
the Racehorse Owners Association. Racehorse owners are the single biggest investors in British racing and we are hugely appreciative of their enthusiasm and commitment to the sport and racing at York.
“We have been privileged to see some of the best flat horses in Europe compete on the Knavesmire and will continue to invest in prize money, facilities and the raceday experience to attract the very best horses to run at York.”
“It gives us special pleasure to win the award in the season that has seen the benefits of the £2.5 million investment in the racing surface, as well as a record level of prize money exceeding £4.7m. During this winter, with the support of the Levy Board, we are investing further in our facilities for owners with a runner at York by increasing the size of our Owners’ Lounge and making it lighter and brighter.”
