City Of York Stakes

The European Pattern Committee (EPC) announced on Tuesday that it has approved the upgrade of four Group 2 races to Group 1 status, including the City Of York Stakes. Traditionally run at York's Ebor Festival in August, it will become the second all-aged seven-furlong Group 1 race in Europe, alongside the Prix de la Forèt at ParisLongchamp in October. The remaining Group 1 upgrades were all related to the EPC's continued pan-European focus on the middle-distance and staying horse. In Britain, the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot was...

It was said to be a source of "great disappointment" to the BHA's Flat Pattern Committee that its partners in Europe could not unanimously agree on an upgrade to the G2 Sky Bet City of York Stakes back in February. Had the application been approved by the European Pattern Committee (EPC), it would have seen the the race become the only Group 1 to be run over seven furlongs in Britain. This was no hit-and-hope attempt by York to attain that status, rather the culmination of a 12-year-plan, in conjunction...