Ebor Festival to last four days

The Ebor is the most popular meeting at York

York's Ebor Festival could become a permanent four-day event if this year's meeting is a success.

The festival has been extended by an extra day this August because of work on the track.

Course marketing manager James Brennan told BBC Radio York: "It's gone in front of the appropriate committees and I think they're in favour of it.

"It'll get formally announced in July but one of the safest bets I would say is for a four-day festival in 2009."

Interview: James Brennan on extending the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse

We think its a good thing to do because it allows us to keep investing in the racing programme James Brennan

"It's something we've always said that we have an appetite to do and that remains the case," Brennan added.

Course clerk William Derby has been negotiating with other racing venues ahead of 2009 to try and secure the extra day for York.

This year the season has been condensed because of drainage work on the Knavesmire and both Thirsk and Catterick swapped race days with York to help them out.

"We think that's the right thing to do. It allows us to put more money in to the racing programme," said Brennan.

"This year the Ebor prize money is boosted by £300,000 because we've got a fourth day of people wanting to come and see, we hope.

"We think its a good thing to do because it allows us to keep investing in the racing programme. That we believe would hold true in 2008, we believe would hold true in to the future."