Royal Ascot Moves To York
Friday, April 01, 2005
150FT JOCKEY LOOKS ODDS ON FAVOURITE FOR ROYAL ASCOT AT YORK
One of the UK's leading landmarks was saddled up by a truly giant jockey today to celebrate Royal Ascot moving from Berkshire to York in 2005.
Measuring a staggering 150 feet, taller than ten double decker buses, the jockey was seated on the Kilburn White Horse in Yorkshire which itself stands at an impressive 300 ft. For one day only, Britain's biggest white horse sculpture was joined by the jockey, affectionately known as 'Yorkshire Jim', complete with his orange and yellow silks.
Royal Ascot at York is set to be staged at the city's racecourse later this year and it's the first time in its near 300 year history that the race meet of the year has left its Berkshire home to move north to York.
Thanks to funding from Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Tourist Board, alongside partners York Tourism Bureau and City of York Council, changed the familiar sight of the Kilburn White Horse to celebrate Royal Ascot's coming to York and even had to register Jim's colours to stage the stunt.
Amanda Smyth, marketing manager at Yorkshire Tourist Board commented: "The White Horse at Kilburn is one of Yorkshire's most famous landmarks and we felt it was the perfect picture to welcome Royal Ascot to York. The image of the jockey surrounded by some of Yorkshire's stunning countryside encapsulates the importance of Royal Ascot at York to the region's tourism industry".
"Thanks to funding from regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, we will be able to capitalize on the interest Royal Ascot at York will generate, to showcase York and Yorkshire as a great place to visit.
She continued: "The giant jockey is the first of many activities that will be taking place over the coming months drawing attraction to York and Yorkshire."
The Royal Ascot meeting dates back to 1711 and is expected to attract some 250,000 visitors over the five days of its relocation to York whilst its Berkshire home undergoes a £185m redevelopment.
For further information visit www.visityork.org/royalascot or log on to www.yorkshirevisitor.com and discover the rest of Yorkshire.
