Finally, the time had arrived. The Ebor Festival, the jewel in the crown of the Yorkshire racing scene. Four days of racing action of the highest class and prestige. A week that can live up to and match the standards of Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. The venue where the biggest and best in the world all come to do battle and create history in the process. A festival where champions are crowned.
Day One - Wednesday: 
The opening act of the Ebor Festival is perceived as the biggest day of the four day meeting as it is headlined by one of the richest races in the world, the Juddmonte International Stakes. Run over a mile and two furlongs, this premier contest is open to three year olds and older and provides a mid season clash of the generations as the new bunch of equine stars take on established names. It is often expected that the highest rated horses in Europe and occasionally the world descend on the Knavesmire in mid August. In the past, the race has been won by legendary names such as Giant's Causeway, Sea The Stars, Frankel, Triptych and many more on a who's who of historic champions on the roll of honour. Twelve months ago, the exceptional Baaeed arrived at York on the back of a nine race unbeaten career and blitzed previous winner Mishriff in a stunning performance which cemented his place as a modern great. This year's line up did not disappoint with the ultra tough three-year-old Paddington taking on Royal Ascot winner Mostahdaf, high quality filly Nashwa and smart The Foxes.
Elsewhere on the card, Classic clues would be on offer with the Acomb Stakes for two-year-olds which was won by subsequent 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean last year. For the stayers, the St Leger is the final Classic to aim for and the Great Voltigeur has provided the Leger winner more times than any other trial. The winner of this year's race will likely have a say in the outcome in next month's Classic.
The meeting is supported by handicaps for long distance types and sprinting types in a great mix of stamina, speed and talent. 

Day Two - Thursday:
Thursday would see plenty of attention both on and off the track as the Ebor Festival played host to its Ladies' Day, which is always a popular social occasion for many. The on field action is aimed at the talented fillies and mares with the Yorkshire Oaks taking centre stage on the racecard. The all-age twelve furlong contest has been won by many of the best fillies in racing history. In recent years, the quality of field has improved greatly and many Oaks winners of corresponding years aim to follow up at York. The likes of Snowfall, Sea Of Class, Midday, Peeping Fawn have all won this prestigious race within the past twenty five years, but none have achieved more than dual Yorkshire Oaks winner Enable, who also landed three King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes. Last year, the highly popular and successful Alpinista landed this race before going on to win the Arc herself to cap off a memorable career. 
This year, the Aidan O'Brien pair of three year old fillies Savethelastdance and Warm Heart renewed rivalries again following their clash in the Irish Oaks last time where Savethelastdance denied Bluestocking in the final strides. The duo would face a talented older generation in the race courtesy of Nassau Stakes winner Al Husn, the classy Free Wind and Sea Silk Road.
Elsewhere on the card, the listed EBF Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes followed the Yorkshire Oaks, run over the same mile and four furlong trip but at a lower level, it still provided an invaluable opportunity of mares gaining "black type" ahead of the broodmare careers. The Goffs DBS Premier Yearling Sales Stakes is a hotly contested conditions race with plenty of value to the winner and the ultra-competitive Clipper Logistics Handicap saw plenty of regular faces return to York. 
Day Three - Friday:
As always, the third day of the Ebor Festival is all about speed. The Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes is one of the quickest races of the year on fast ground as the world's leading five furlong horses converge into one race and take each other on. A searing pace is often expected and the cream usually rises to the top. The scene of Dayjur's amazing 57 second time in 1990 which lasted for 29 years until the equally lightning fast Battaash blew it away in 2019. The very best of the sprinting scene have won this race over the years. From Oasis Dream to Mozart, Pivotal to Lochsong, the list of former winners makes for impressive reading. Last year, the fairytale career of Highfield Princess continued with a stunning win here twelve months ago and she returned once again to defend her crown. The likes of Royal Ascot winners Bradsell, Khaadem and the rapid juvenile Big Evs were all expected to challenge as well as regular attendees Twilight Calls, Equality, Dramatised and many more. 
The impressive undercard on Friday included a leading prize for stayers, the two mile Lonsdale Cup. York's own version of the Ascot Gold Cup, many former winners at the Royal Meeting attempt to follow up with a usually successful mission. Last year, Quickthorn led a merry dance under jockey Tom Marquand, finding himself a long long way clear before coasting to a fourteen length victory. He would return again this year, but he still has a long way to go to match the great Stradivarius's record. With four wins in this race, this meeting often brought out the best in Stradivarius and Frankie Dettori, which makes the hole left by the stayer even bigger to fill. 
The Gimcrack Stakes for juveniles is one of the most prestigious two-year-old sprints and often produces a champion speedster in the following years. Subsequent Group One performers Blue Point, Emaraaty Ana, Muharaar and Minzaal are all recent winners of the Gimcrack, but further back, the race has been won by legends such as Rock Of Gibraltar and Mill Reef. This year's crop of leading sprinters arrived on the Knavesmire looking to begin their journey to success at the highest level, which included the smart Kyllian, trained by Karl Burke. 

Day Four - Saturday:
While the previous days of the Ebor Festival have been for the highest quality, the final day is one for the locals, Ebor day. Formerly run during midweek as part of a three day meeting, the Ebor Handicap has been revitalised since its move to a Saturday slot and given a huge prize money boost. Now worth a million pounds to the winner, the fourteen furlong challenge is hotly contested in this day and age and remains one of York's biggest events of the year. 
The main event is supported by the Group Two City Of York Stakes, which is run over the intermediate trip of seven furlongs but the quality of horse it attracts each year makes a case for the race to be upgraded to Grade One. Last year, the winning machine Kinross landed this race under Frankie Dettori, a big admirer of the gelding and he was expected to be back at York once again. 
The Melrose Handicap is known as the "mini Ebor" due to its likeness to the main race but it is limited to three year olds. The added incentive of winning the Melrose and gaining automatic entry into the following year's Ebor gives trainers plenty of long term aims for their young stayers.