York Racecourse is a horse racing venue in York, North Yorkshire, England. It is the third biggest racecourse in Britain in terms of total prize money offered, and second behind Ascot in prize money offered per meeting. It attracts around 350,000 racegoers per year and stages three of the UK’s 36 annual Group 1 races ? the Juddmonte International Stakes, the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks.
The course is located in the south-west of the city, next to the former Terry’s of York factory, The Chocolate Works. It is situated on an expanse of ground which has been known since pre-medieval times as the Knavesmire, from the Anglo-Saxon “knave” meaning a man of low standing, and “mire” meaning a swampy pasture for cattle. For this reason, the racecourse is still sometimes referred to as “The Knavesmire”. The Knavesmire was originally common pasture, belonging to the city. It was also the scene of the hanging of Dick Turpin in 1739.