Flat racing season in the UK is now officially on, dotting your summer social calendar with an array of horse racing events. One of the earliest major meetings is the Dante Festival 2026 that will be taking place between Wednesday, 13 May and Friday, 15 May at the York Racecourse.
The York Racecourse holds several credits to its name. It is the third biggest in the country in terms of total prize money offered and second biggest after Ascot when it comes to prize money offered per meeting. Besides, it hosts four out of 38 annual Group 1 races conducted in the UK: the Juddmonte International Stakes, the Nunthorpe Stakes, the Yorkshire Oaks, and the City of York Stakes.
This year, the Festival will open with The British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes as its first race, while The Darley EBF “Confined” Novice Stakes will close the entire event.
The three feature races will be conducted in the following order: The Tattersalls Musidora Stakes on the first day, The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes on the second day, and The Boodles Yorkshire Cup on the third day of the event.
Dante Festival Racecard
The Dante Festival 2026 will be conducted in the second week of May and last for three days. This horse racing fixture will include 21 races, evenly distributed across the entire course of the event.
Day One: Dante Festival Wednesday (13 May)
- When: Wednesday, 13 May 2026
- Gate opening: 11:15 am
- First race: 1:45 pm
- Headline race: 4:05 pm
- Last race: 5:15 pm
The daily race card for the Dante Festival Wednesday 2026 is as follows:
Going: good (good to firm in places)
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 1:45 pm | THE BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF NOVICE STAKES (CLASS 2) (CL 2) | 5f | 2YO £40,000.00 |
| 2:20 pm | THE SKY BET RACE TO THE EBOR JORVIK HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 2) | 1m 3f 188y | 4YO+ £65,000.00 |
| 2:55 pm | THE CHURCHILL TYRES HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (CL 2) | 6f | 4YO+ £60,000.00 Rating 0-105 |
| 3:30 pm | THE GO LOCAL STORES MINSTER STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2) (CL 1) | 6f | 3YO+ £165,000.00 |
| 4:05 pm | THE TATTERSALLS MUSIDORA STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 3) (CL 1) | 1m 2f 56y | 3YO £130,000.00 |
| 4:40 pm | THE CONUNDRUM HR CONSULTING HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 3) (CL 3) | 7f | 3YO £30,000.00 Rating 76-95 |
| 5:15 pm | THE STUEY WESTON & FRIENDS GETTING OUT HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 4) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 4) | 1m 3f 188y | 4YO+ £30,000.00 Rating 66-85 |
Day Two: Dante Festival Thursday (14 May)
- When: Thursday, 14 May 2026
- Gate opening: 11:15 am
- First race: 1:45 pm
- Headline race: 4:05 pm
- Last race: 5:15 pm
The daily race card for the Dante Festival Thursday 2026 is as follows:
Going: good (good to firm in places)
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 1:45 pm | THE SKY BET ebfstallions.com NOVICE STAKES (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE) (CL 2) | 6f | 2YO £40,000.00 |
| 2:20 pm | THE LINDUM YORK HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (CL 2) | 5f | 4YO+ £60,000.00 Rating 0-105 |
| 2:55 pm | THE OAKMERE HOMES HAMBLETON HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (CL 2) | 7f 192y | 4YO+ £75,000.00 |
| 3:30 pm | THE AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI MIDDLETON FILLIES’ STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2) (CL 1) | 1m 2f 56y | 4YO+ £165,000.00 |
| 4:05 pm | THE AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI DANTE STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2) (CL 1) | 1m 2f 56y | 3YO £180,000.00 |
| 4:40 pm | THE BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF WESTOW STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) (CL 1) | 5f | 3YO £70,000.00 |
| 5:15 pm | THE FRANK WHITTLE PARTNERSHIP HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 4) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 4) | 1m 3f 188y | 3YO £30,000.00 Rating 61-80 |
Day Three: Dante Festival Friday (15 May)
- When: Friday, 15 May 2026
- Gate opening: 11:15 am
- First race: 1:45 pm
- Headline race: 4:05 pm
- Last race: 5:15 pm
The daily race card for the Dante Festival Friday 2026 is as follows:
Going: good (good to firm in places)
| Time | Race | Distance | Conditions |
| 1:45 pm | THE YORKSHIRE EQUINE PRACTICE HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 4) (CL 4) | 7f | 4YO+ £30,000.00 Rating 61-80 |
| 2:20 pm | THE SKY BET FILLIES’ STAKES (CLASS 1) (REGISTERED AS THE MICHAEL SEELY MEMORIAL FILLIES’ STAKES) (Listed Race) (CL 1) | 7f 192y | 3YO £70,000.00 |
| 2:55 pm | THE SUPPORT MACMILLAN CHARITY RACEDAY ON 13 JUNE HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2) (GBBPLUS RACE) (CL 2) | 1m 2f 56y | 4YO+ £60,000.00 Rating 0-100 |
| 3:30 pm | THE DESIGN TONIC OUT OF THIS WORLD SPACES AT THE RACES EBF MARYGATE FILLIES’ STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) (CL 1) | 5f | 2YO £70,000.00 |
| 4:05 pm | THE BOODLES YORKSHIRE CUP STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2) (CL 1) | 1m 5f 188y | 4YO+ £180,000.00 |
| 4:40 pm | THE IRISH THOROUGHBRED MARKETING HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 3) (CL 3) | 5f | 3YO £30,000.00 Rating 71-90 |
| 5:15 pm | THE DARLEY EBF “CONFINED” NOVICE STAKES (CLASS 2) (for horses with no more than two runs) (GBB RACE) (CL 2) | 7f 192y | 3YO+ £40,000.00 |
Headline Races at the Dante Festival 2026
The Dante Festival 2026 meeting includes 21 races, with seven races conducted on each day of the event. As the winners of the two headline races are considered strong favourites for the upcoming British Classics, the horse racing enthusiasts and bettors who come to the York Racecourse between 13 and 15 May will witness some high class racing battles.
Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (Wednesday, 13 May)
The Musidora Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race that accepts female horses aged three years. It is run over the distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards (2,063 metres).
Established in 1961, this race is considered a trial for the Oaks race taking place at the Epsom Racecourse during the Epsom Derby Festival later in the season. It got its name from a famed horse who won two of the British Classics in 1949, 1,000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks, and was trained in York.
Every filly can only participate in Musidora Stakes once in her racing career, that’s why there are no multiple winners in this race. However, jockeys and trainers get an opportunity to enter their names in the winning records as many times as they can.
The most successful jockey of Musidora Stakes is Frankie Dettori with 7 wins (Bahr 1998, Punctilious 2004, Star of Seville 2015, So Mi Dar 2016, Shutter Speed 2017, Emily Upjohn 2022, Soul Sister 2023).
Sir Henry Cecil holds the title of the trainer with most wins, having trained 9 winning charges (Fatah Flare 1985, Indian Skimmer 1987, Diminuendo 1988, Snow Bride 1989, All at Sea 1992, Magnificient Style 1996, Reams of Verse 1997, Passage of Time 2007, Aviate 2010).
The latest winner in 2025 was a bay filly Whirl. She added two more wins to her count in the same season: Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes and Qatar Nassau Stakes. In her debut season of 2024 she also won two out of four races she participated in: Coopers Marquees EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (September) and Staffordstown Stud Stakes (October). Whirl was trained by Aidan O’Brien and led on the track by jockey Ryan Moore.
Currently, there are 10 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Some of the jockeys for the race have already been announced, others are still awaiting confirmation.
The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:
- Allaire (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)
- Della Pace (age 3, jockey Jamie Spencer, trainer George Boughey)
- Estissa (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer James Fanshawe)
- Felicitas (age 3, jockey Kieran Shoemark, trainer Ed Walker)
- K Sarra (age 3, jockey Rossa Ryan, trainer Ralph Beckett)
- Legacy Link (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Moments Of Joy (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Romantic Symphony (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)
- Sea The Storm (age 3, jockey Tom Marquand, trainer William Haggas)
- Symbol Of Majesty (age 3, jockey William Buick, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Dante Stakes (Thursday, 14 May)
The Dante Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race that accepts both male and female horses aged three years. It is run over the distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards (2,063 metres).
It was established in 1958 and serves as the trial for another British Classic, the Epsom Derby, that takes place later in the season. So far, eleven of its winners have won the Derby. The race was named after the Derby winner of 1945 who underwent his training in York.
The rules of the Dante Stakes don’t allow for multiple winners among horses, but records hold names of both jockeys and trainers who managed to achieve this accomplishment several times in their career.
Among the jockeys, Pat Eddery stands out with 6 wins (Beldale Flutter 1981, Hot Touch 1983, Damister 1985, Red Glow 1988, Sanglamore 1990, Tenby 1993). Two trainers share the same biggest number of victories: Sir Henry Cecil (Approval 1970, Lyphard’s Wish 1979, Hello Gorgeous 1980, Simply Great 1982, Claude Monet 1984, Reference Point 1987, Tenby 1993) and Sir Michael Stoute (Shahrastani 1986, Alnasr Alwasheek 1992, Dilshaan 2001, North Light 2004, Tartan Bearer 2008, Carlton House 2011, Desert Crown 2022), with 7 wins each.
The latest winner in 2025 was a bay gelding Pride Of Arras. His other victory of the season also took place at the York Racecourse, where he won the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes. In his debut season of 2024, he only ran in one race (British EBF Maiden Stakes) and came first to the finish line. Pride Of Arras was trained by Ralph Beckett and led on the track by jockey Rossa Ryan.
Currently, there are 44 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Some of the jockeys for the race have already been announced, others are still awaiting confirmation.
The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:
- Accredit (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Action (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Al Zanati (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)
- Amadeus Mozart (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Ancient Egypt (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Johnston)
- Bay Of Brilliance (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ralph Beckett)
- Benvenuto Cellini (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Causeway (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Christmas Day (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Constitution River (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Endorsement (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Flushing Meadows (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Glacius (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Hugo Palmer)
- Golden Knight (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ed Walker)
- Golden Story (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
- Gonna Fly (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ralph Beckett)
- Guildmaster (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Hankelow (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
- Hawk Mountain (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Isaac Newton (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Italy (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Item (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)
- King’s Trail (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)
- Lyneham (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ralph Beckett)
- Maho Bay (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)
- Maltese Cross (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer William Haggas)
- Montreal (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Morshdi (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer William Haggas)
- My Love Is King (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- New Zealand (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Organise (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Pathein (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ed Dunlop)
- Pierre Bonnard (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Port Of Spain (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Poseidon’s Warrior (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)
- Proposition (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Quartermaster (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Raaheeb (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Owen Burrows)
- Ravenspire (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
- Saxon Street (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Shayem (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
- Spyce (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Alan King)
- Wise Prince (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Yazin (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
Boodles Yorkshire Cup (Friday, 15 May)
The Yorkshire Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race that accepts both male and female horses aged four years or older. It is run over the distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs and 188 yards (2,787 metres).
It was established in 1927 and changed its status and distance several times since then. In 2011, it became a part of the British Champions Series until the latter was discontinued in 2025.
The horse who holds the largest number of wins in the Yorkshire Cup is Stradivarius with 3 wins (2018, 2019, 2022). Lester Piggott is the most successful jockey of the race with 8 wins (Pandofell 1961, Aunt Edith 1966, Knockroe 1972, Bruni 1976, Bright Finish 1977, Noble Saint 1980, Ardross 1981, 1982). The most prolific trainer is Cecil Boyd-Rochfort with 7 wins (The Scout II 1931, Kingstone 1945, Premonition 1954, Dickens 1960, Sagacity 1962, Raise You Ten 1964, Apprentice 1965).
The latest winner in 2025 was a bay gelding Rebel’s Romance, who turned 7 two months before the race. He had a total of three wins out of five races he participated in during the season, the other two being Hardwicke Stakes and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes. Rebel’s Romance was trained by Charlie Appleby and led on the track by jockey William Buick. While so far he hasn’t been announced to participate in this year’s race, Rebel’s Romance has already won his first race of the season (Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored By Emirates.com, USA).
Currently, there are 28 runners announced to compete in this year’s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Some of the jockeys for the race have already been announced, others are still awaiting confirmation.
The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:
- Caballo De Mar (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer George Scott)
- Ethical Diamond (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Scandinavia (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Sons And Lovers (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O’Brien)
- Sweet William (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Consent (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Sir Mark Prescott)
- Al Nayyir (age 8, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Tom Clover)
- Al Qareem (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)
- Amiloc (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ralph Beckett)
- Deira Mile (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Jessica Bedi)
- Dubai Future (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Saeed bin Suroor)
- Epic Poet (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer David O’Meara)
- French Master (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Furthur (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)
- Hamish (age 10, jockey unconfirmed, trainer William Haggas)
- Illinois (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Jan Brueghel (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Kihavah (age 9, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian Paul Keatley)
- Lambourn (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O’Brien)
- Lazy Griff (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Johnston)
- Lion’s Pride (age 6, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John & Thady Gosden)
- Rahiebb (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Roger Varian)
- Sober (age 7, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Willie Mullins)
- Subsequent (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)
- Tabletalk (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Tom Clover)
- Tarriance (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Andrew Balding)
- Miss Alpilles (age 5, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ed Walker)
- Waardah (age 4, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Owen Burrows)
Betting at Dante Festival 2026
With two races that often produce future Classics participants, a variety of distances and conditions, and the undeniable social component of the event, the Dante Festival will host a large crowd of horse race goers and bettors yet again this year.
If you are interested in placing a bet on any of the 21 races of the fixture, you will have two options to do so. Specialised betting facilities will be present at the racetrack for those who plan to attend in person. Online betting will be open to everyone else.
Whether you bet in person or via a bookmaking platform, remember to practice responsible gambling and make informed decisions when choosing your markets and runners. This includes analysing the favourites and the outsiders, checking the recent performances of both the horses and jockeys alongside their physical form, looking into each trainer’s historical dynamics at the Dante Festival, and comparing odds offered by all available bookmakers.
At 7bet, we offer a wide range of horse race betting markets both for domestic and international events.
Please note that odds for the Dante Festival 2026 will be available closer to the event date.
Betting at the Dante Festival 2026 includes various horse betting markets, with some of the most popular ones being:
- Win: This betting market is based on the same concept as any straight win market in sports betting. Your task as a bettor here is to predict the outcome of the race. Correspondingly, you bet on a horse that in your opinion has the best chances of winning the race. If you do make a correct prediction, your wager will be eligible for a payout proportional to the offered odds and your stake size. Due to its simplicity, this bet is often recommended for punters who are just making their first steps in sports betting and need to gain experience with understanding odds and overall dynamics.
- Place: This betting market follows a similar concept as the previous one but keeps the risks at a comparatively lower level. Here you are placing your wager on a horse to come to the finish line within the winning top, which in horse racing terms is called placement. Typically, it includes anywhere from two to four places depending on the number of runners competing in the race and the type of race. This information will be officially shared before the race starts. What causes decreased risks is that there are more chances to be placed than to win the race, besides, you don’t have to predict the exact placement as any place will work in your favour. Be aware that the odds for this bet are usually lower than for the win market, however it is a good fit for a race with several strong runners or if you prefer to have a little more control over the risks.
- First Two (or First Three): The concept of this betting market considerably differs from the previous two. It also involves higher risks. When placing a wager here, you are trying to predict the first two horses to come to the finish line. At that, you need to specify which one of them will be the winner and which one will be the runner up. This is still one wager, as you don’t need to place two separate stakes on them. You are running a higher risk of making the wrong prediction here because the horses have to come to the finish line in the exact order you defined. If they finish the race in the reverse order or one of them falls behind, your bet will be lost.
- Two From Three: This betting market follows the same mechanism but the risks involved are a little lower. When placing a bet, you have to name two horses that will make it to the top three. A favourable condition for you is that you don’t have to specify which places exactly they will take. All they need to do is to be placed anywhere between first and third place for your wager to qualify for a win. Keep in mind, though, that they both have to do it. If one of them doesn’t make it into the top three, you will lose your wager.
Always remember to gamble responsibly and treat betting as a form of entertainment and not means for financial gain.
Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org