Today’s York Odds and Tips

Home of the Ebor Festival, York racecourse hosts top notch Flat racing, and you can see all the latest races, odds, tips and results here...

York Major Races

York Racecourse has been hosting horse racing meetings since 1731 and is known as one of the premier race courses in the United Kingdom with excellent facilities. The track is known as the 'The Knavesmire' it is used for flat racing and it is a left handed oval shaped course.

The racecourse hosts 17 days of racings with the highlight being the four day Ebor Festival in August each year, with each day having a feature races but the spotlight races are the Juddmonte International Stakes and the Ebor Handicap. The festival is also known for the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks. Another key race as this track is the group 2 Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup which is held in May.

Although York is one of the fairest track middle numbers do tend to be favoured on the straight track when the ground is soft.

Big Races Run At York Racecourse

York Races betting encompasses some of the British calendar’s most significant flat racing events. Get to know the most high-profile examples below: 

Musidora Stakes

The Musidora Stakes is a one-mile, two-furlong, and 56-yard Group III flat race only open to three-year-old fillies. An anticipated date for York Races results every May – the race is renowned for being one of the main trials for the Epsom Oaks Stakes the following month. The Musidora Stakes is an important event during the Dante Festival, attracting many leading jockeys and eligible three-year-old fillies. 

Dante Stakes

Arguably the most distinguished trial for the Epsom Derby Stakes, the Dante Stakes is a Group II flat race for three-year-old horses. Established in 1958, it quickly became a significant York Races betting event, known for bringing through several Derby winners. St Paddy and Desert Crown are two examples, while Hurricane Lane went on to win the Irish Derby. The Dante Stakes has consequently earned a reputation as a key race for punters scoping out potential winning horses at other major events. 

Yorkshire Cup

Taking place on the Dante Festival’s final day, the Yorkshire Cup pits four-year-old and older horses against each other over one mile, five furlongs, and 188 yards. The race has undergone several rule changes since its inaugural 1927 edition, with jockeys and horses experiencing changes in distance, handicap rules, and entry requirements. The British Champions Series added the Yorkshire Cup to its long-distance division in 2011, enhancing the Group II event’s reputation among stayers fans. 

John Smith’s Cup

Formerly known as the Magnet Cup, the John Smith’s Cup is sponsored by its namesake and holds the record for the longest-running flat racing sponsorship. Traditionally one of the most well-attended York Races betting events, this event is staged annually in July and features three-year-old horses or above. John Smith’s Cup runners compete over one mile, two furlongs, and 56 yards under flat handicap rules. 

Great Voltigeur Stakes

The Group II Great Voltigeur Stakes is a one-mile, three-furlong, and 188-yard race open to three-year-old colts and geldings. Running since 1950 on the opening day of August’s Ebor Festival, it’s an important trial for the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster in September. Fourteen horses have so far run to victory during both races, most recently Logician in 2019. As such, we highly recommend checking our York Races results page for the Great Voltigeur Stakes winners before the last British Classic of the season at Doncaster. 

Juddmonte International Stakes

The Juddmonte International Stakes, or simply the International Stakes, has York Racecourse’s largest purse and takes place on the Ebor Festival’s opening day. The Group I flat race covers one mile, two furlongs, and 56 yards, with first place taking just over half a million pounds in 2022. Open to all horses over three years, the Juddmonte International Stakes is one of the most exciting York Races betting events, voted the world’s best race in 2014. 

Yorkshire Oaks

The Yorkshire Oaks features three-year-old and over horses competing over one mile, three furlongs, and 188 yards. The race is notable for the impressive array of fillies and mares from the Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks and other prestigious three-year-old races, often pitting them against older horses for the first time. Yorkshire Oaks winners can go on to taste more success later in the year at the Breeders’ Cup and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, so it’s worth keeping an eye on. 

Lonsdale Cup

Taking place on the Ebor Festival’s penultimate day, the Lonsdale Cup is an important York racing trial for the Doncaster Cup the following month. The Group II flat race features horses aged three years and older competing over two miles and 56 yards. A favourite among stayers – such as the legendary Stradivarius, who has won three times – the Lonsdale Cup is a nail-biting race averaging three-and-a-half minutes. As such, it’s one of the most attractive live York Races betting opportunities. 

Nunthorpe Stakes

One of the few races open to two-year-old-and-over horses, the Grade I Nunthorpe Stakes is a dash over five furlongs, often capturing the limelight on day three of the Ebor Festival. The prestigious sprint event serves as a vital testing ground for the Prix de l’Abbaye later in the year at Longchamp. Goodwood Racecourse’s King George Stakes is a good place to look for Nunthorpe Stakes betting clues, as several horses have won the York dash after competing in the Glorious Goodwood race. 

Ebor Handicap

The Ebor Handicap is another significant York Races betting opportunity. Ran over one mile, five furlongs, and 188 yards, the flat handicap race is open to all horses four years and older. Arguably the standout event during the Ebor Festival’s last day, the Ebor Handicap is Europe’s most valuable handicap race, with a considerable £1,000,000 purse in 2019. The large field makes this race a particularly exciting York Races betting opportunity where underdogs stand a real chance. 

Top York Betting Sites

Picking the right York Races betting platform for your preferences is essential for your long-term enjoyment. Check below for some of our top picks and vital information: 

bet365

A name synonymous with high-level sports betting, bet365 offers new customers a bet £10 and get £30 in free bets welcome bonus. The incentives continue with its trademark “Bet Boost” regular odds enhancements and a bet365 price promise on all ITV York Races betting. Punters can also access Best Odds Guaranteed from 8am on win and each-way stakes, making it a versatile option.  

William Hill

Willam Hill is a superb operator with decades of experience supplying in-depth odds on York Races results and other popular horse racing events. The platform has arguably the industry’s most powerful odds enhancement feature, with its “Epic Boost” promo generating a 25%-100% price increase. William Hill’s £40 free bet welcome offer is also one of our top picks, especially compared with most other large competing bookies. 

BetVictor

BetVictor matches the William Hill welcome bonus, also offering £40 in free bets after placing an initial £10 stake. The operator has additional incentives for existing customers, including Best Odds Guaranteed, refunds on horses that don’t start the race or crash out early, and various York Races betting offers and other popular events. 

Betfred

Betfred’s distinctively no-nonsense approach to a great horse racing betting experience is best demonstrated by their near-endless catalogue of ongoing bonuses. The promotions homepage has several enticing features, including an up to 25% cash bonus on Lucky 15, 31, and 63s, a free bet if your horse places second, super extra place races, and up to 5x your odds if you only get one winner in a Lucky 15, 31, or 63 bet.  

Payment Options For York Betting

Selecting the best banking method is a key part of York Races betting, so ensure you know the advantages and drawbacks of each option to guarantee you make the best choice. Payment providers can significantly differ on various characteristics like transaction speed, security measures, convenience, and availability. Check below for a lowdown on the most popular: 

Debit Cards

If you’re craving maximum familiarity, using debit cards is probably the best way to go. Punters using this banking method enjoy foolproof online security, wide availability, and some of the fastest transaction speeds. Despite its many positives, there are a few drawbacks. For example, other methods don't require the sharing of sensitive banking data, which can be a significant security preference for many bettors. 

E-Wallets

PayPal and other popular e-wallets like Neteller or Skrill are increasingly popular banking methods for York Races betting. These virtual wallets give extra convenience compared to conventional banking, with typically faster transactions and streamlined sign-in options like biometric Touch or Face ID on mobile apps. Nevertheless, e-wallets are regularly omitted from bookmaker deposit promotions, which is something that must be considered. 

Paysafecard

Paysafecard is arguably the best payment method for punters looking to budget as effectively as possible, but it does come with significant drawbacks. The main advantage is security: the unique PIN code on your real-life or virtual voucher is the only thing you need to make a deposit, completely swerving any sharing of bank details or online logins. Withdrawals is where Paysafecard lets itself down, with limited availability and a requirement to have a My Paysafecard account.  

Trustly

Trustly can be a great middle ground for punters funding their York Races betting journey. The Open Banking powered payment option links online banking with your bookies account without any card or account numbers. Trustly users enjoy fast transactions protected by comprehensive SSL encryption and other powerful security features. In fact, one of the only current downsides is the limited availability.

History Of York Racecourse

York has one of the UK’s richest horse racing histories, with plenty of evidence to suggest that early forms of the sport stretch back to the Roman or even Neolithic era. Historians still don’t entirely agree on York Racecourse’s origin date, with a few contested claims from around the early 1700s. The course quickly gained a reputation for UK bettors and had two annual meets by the 1800s, flowering into the Dante Festival and Ebor Festival we know and love today. 

The York Racecourse Committee built the first grandstand in 1890, beginning an iconic period of development through to 1965. Organisers added three grandstands in quick succession from 1989 to 2003: the Melrose Stand, Knavesmire Stand, and Ebor Stand. York Racecourse is now undeniably one of the elite-level UK racecourses, even staging Royal Ascot and the St Leger Stakes in 2005 and 2006. 

York Racecourse has hosted numerous outstanding horses over the years, including Stradivarius, who notched up a record-breaking three wins at the Yorkshire Cup. The most successful jockeys are Frankie Dettori and Lester Piggott. 

Responsible Gambling

No matter how fun and engaging York Races betting can be, you must have a firm grasp of responsible gambling principles to stay safe. We’ve listed a few of the top tools to help you bet with moderation below: 

Set Budgets 

Create a strict budget separate from daily finances before placing any bets to ensure you don’t spend outside your means. 

Self-Exclusion 

Many bookies have a self-exclusion feature allowing punters to block access to their accounts for a limited period. 

Set Account Limits 

Bookmakers also allow their customers to set deposit limits. This is a great tool to further safeguard your bankroll and force a responsible payments approach.  

Don’t Aim to Make Money 

Don’t aim to make money through York Races betting or any other wagers, as this will not only harm your enjoyment but also add pressure and ultimately put your responsible gambling status at risk. 

Responsible Gambling Organisations 

If you need more help, use some of the responsible gambling channels below:

• GamCare - Helping people find valuable betting addiction advisors and support. 
• BeGambleAware.org - Spreading comprehensive information and responsible gambling tactics. 
• Gamblers Anonymous - Global network connecting gambling addicts and helping them talk through their issues together. 

Frequently Asked Questions