York race course often comes out on top, when the discussion about where the UKs best horse racing course crops up. York is often seen as being one of the UKs most prestigious and enjoyable race courses to attend. The recent winner of the Flat Racecourse of the Year Award it’s never short of an accolade or two, from industry experts.
Unlike other tracks, where we can be accurate with regards to when the first meet occurred, York has a somewhat hazier history. Races were first recorded in York when England was governed by a Roman Emperor, going by the name of Emperor Severus, over 2,000 years ago. Or, thereabouts.
In more recent times, well around the 16th century records show horse races once took place upon the frozen river Ouse, between Micklegate Tower and Skeldergare Postern.
The course, where it sits now at Knavesmire, has been here since 1730, having been forced to move due to continuous flooding. The first meet, on this horse shoe shaped course, took place in 1731. The first stands went up in 1754 and there has been continued expansion and development since.
