Action for the 2025 season at York Racecourse gets underway with this year’s renewal of the three-day Dante Festival.
This year sees an increase in prize money with a record £1.5million awarded across 21 scheduled races in North Yorkshire.
The event attracts elite horses from across the country as flat-trainers trial their best runners in preparation for bigger races later in the season.
Feature race victors will be popular in betting markets for the classics; whilst the Boodles Yorkshire Cup, has proven form ahead of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
The festival’s namesake is the Dante Stakes, it headlines day two of the event and is also a major trial for the Epsom Derby.
Whatever happens, the hospitable nature of northerners and forecast sunny weather are bonuses in what is set to be three fantastic days of thrilling racing action.
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When is the Dante Festival?
Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Stakes kicks off day one; the starting gates will open at 1:50pm on Wednesday, May 14.
It is the first of seven races on day one, which includes the running of two group races.
The former is the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes, a Group 2 contest worth £150,000, whilst the latter is the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes – worth £20,000 less.
Day two is highlighted by the Festival’s namesake, the Dante Stakes.
It is the second of two Group 2 races on the second day and is worth £180,000.
Since 2005, 16 winners of the race have headed to Epsom for the Derby, with four of those claiming victory.
The latest to do so was the late Desert Crown for renowned trainer Sir Michael Stoute in 2022.
The Boodles Yorkshire Cup headlines day three of the meeting. Like the Dante Stakes the previous day, it is due off at 3:45pm.
Trainers to watch
Seven-time champion flat trainer Aiden O’brien seems unstoppable at the moment with Ballydoyle winners flying in all over the place.
The Irishman cleaned up at Chester, taking victory in the Cheshire Oaks, Chester Vase, Ormonde Stakes and Dee Stakes before winning the Derby trial at Lingfield.
He has also taken a clean-sweep of trials on home turf at Naas and Leopardstown last week.
It is certain that he will be well-represented on the Knavesmire this week.
However, according to current standings the leading flat-trainer is Andrew Balding – bidding for his first trainers championship title.
He tops the table having taken home £1.4million in prize money and his horses also hold a level stakes profit of +8.00 in the Festival’s showpiece – the Dante.
Following him in the standings is Charlie Appleby, whose horses run in the famous all-blue silks that represent prestigious owner group Godolphin.
The leading trainer in the Dante itself, however, is Sir Stoute, who has taken victory seven times.
This total is matched by the late Henry Cecil, who died in 2013.
John and Thady Gosden also get a mention, as they are third in the standings. The former is a six-time Champion Trainer.
Jockeys to watch
Ryan Moore is a man that can’t seem to do anything wrong, having ridden O’Brien’s horses to victory in the aforementioned races.
It is impossible to gauge ability from the jockey standings given that the season is two weeks old, though it must be said that he holds a 29% strike rate so far.
He is also one of three current jockeys to have won the Dante Stakes three times and they all trade at a profit.
William Buick is the current table-topper and he arrives fresh from victory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, whilst last year’s champion jockey Oisin Murphy is another booked to ride in this year’s showpiece.
All three are sure to be involved across the Festival, however.
Another jockey to watch could be Kieran Shoemark, who will arrive at York off the back of the French 1000 Guineas in which his horse, She’s Perfect, was first past the post but was later disqualified into second, having been deemed to interfere with the elected winner.
It was a controversial decision which has sparked debates amongst racing fans online, not least because the horse is owned by online influencer ‘Basher Watts’ – founder of the Basher Watts racing syndicate.
Shoemark has been ‘jocked off’ his ride in the Lockinge at Newbury and has recently lost his job as stable jockey John and Thady Gosden, after a poor ride in the 2000 Guineas.
He is surely due to have some good fortune soon.
How to watch the Dante Festival on TV?
All of the races will be shown live on Racing TV for Subscribers, whilst five of the seven races each day will be shown live and for free on terrestrial TV via ITV Racing.
READ MORE: Preakness Stakes 2025 – Dates, how to watch on TV, trainers and jockeys to watch
