FANTASTIC FRANKIE
Jockey Frankie Dettori leaps off his horse Cracksman after winning a race at the Ebor Festival at York’s Knavesmire racecourse yesterday. Today will be ladies’ day at the event, which attracts thousands of racing fans from around the world.
EVEN A morning deluge failed to dampen the spirits of spectators on day one of the Ebor Festival at York.
Fuschia was the early pacesetter in the style stakes, the vivid colour in keeping with many of the floral blooms on the Knavesmire.
There was Royalty with the Duke of York among the spectators.
There was footballing royalty with longstanding manager Harry Redknapp present to watch his horse Moviesta trailed home an unlucky 13 out of 16 runners in the opener.
And then there was racing royalty in the form of legendary trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who was winning the feature Juddmonte International for a record sixth time before being presented with his trophy by Prince Andrew. His victorious horse Ulysses was ridden by champion jockey Jim Crowley, who began his career over jumps with National Hunt stalwarts Sue and Harvey Smith high up on Baildon Moor before switching to the Flat. No wonder he relished the rain-softened conditions after a Biblical-like 15 millimetres of rain fell in 90 minutes. The torrents proved to be a traffic nightmare for first-day attendees at the prestigious festival, which continues with Ladies Day today. The feature is the Yorkshire Oaks in which the fantastic filly Enable is hot favourite to provide further success for jockey Frankie Dettori, who performed his trademark flying dismount after Cracksman’s success in yesterday’s Great Voltigeur Stakes. York wouldn’t be the same without fashion, food – or Frankie.