A RECORD £7.7m in prize money will be up-for-grabs this season at York racecourse.

The Dante Festival, which starts on Wednesday, will offer £1.2m over three days with every single race worth over £20,000.

The first big race of the meeting is the Tattersalls Musidora on the opening day which is one of 21 races at York this season offering a six figure prize.

A feature race for three year old fillies, the Musidora has proved to be a leading form indicator for the Investec Oaks.

Fillies from the Musidora often return as older horses to contest the £125,000 Group Two Betfred Middleton Stakes, which takes place on Thursday.

Potential champion sprinters will go to post in the fastest contest of the week, the Group Two Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes.

The Betfred Dante, named after the last Yorkshire trained winner of the Derby in 1945, is staged on Thursday.

This Group Two contest now offers a prize fund of £165,000 and is one of ten contests on the Knavesmire among the top 200 contests in the world, according to the respected TRC Global Rankings.

The British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes for three year old sprinters is one of three Listed contests at the Festival that have seen prize money rise to £50,000.

Friday’s principal race is The Betway Yorkshire Cup, now worth £165,000 to the leading stayers over one mile and three-quarters.

A valuable and highly-rated Group Two ‘Cup’ race, Friday’s renewal is part of the Qipco British Champions Series, the first of five York contests that are part of this special series of the top races in Britain.

Also on Friday is a Listed race, the Marygate, for star fillies of the future. Another rise in prize money to £50,000 makes this the richest contest of its type for juvenile fillies in the country.

A new giant screen has been installed in the canopy over the John Carr Stand bringing the racing action live to punters on the champagne lawns.

This has increased the provision to four giant screens at York alongside 100 plus LCD flat screen televisions.

For more details about the Dante Festival and the season ahead visit www.yorkracecourse.co.uk