York’s Wednesday return is moving into sharper focus, with a seven-race card headed by the renamed Group 2 Minster Stakes and the Musidora, one of the spring’s key Oaks trials.
With the Festival running over three days – through to Friday, with other big races like the Dante Stakes and Yorkshire Cup to look forward to.
York Opening Day Runners Take Shape with Minster Stakes and Musidora at Centre of Dante Meeting
York’s 2026 Dante meeting opener has moved into clearer view, with approved-source racecards showing a seven-race Wednesday programme on ground described as good, good to firm in places, however, there are showers in the forecast.
The Wednesday card runs from 1:45 to 5:15 and is headed by the Go Local Stores Minster Stakes over six furlongs at 3:30 and the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes over a mile, two furlongs and 56 yards at 4.05.
And five races live on Wednesday, and each day of the three-day meeting, on the ITV Racing schedule.
Sprint Feature Brings Depth To the Opening Day
The current racecard shows 17 runners for the £165k Minster Stakes, with Big Mojo and Powerful Glory among those set to line up in the renamed Group 2 feature.
This card also lists established sprint names including American Affair, Aramram and Art Power among the contenders, giving York’s six-furlong centrepiece more depth than a routine early-season return.
Musidora Offers Another Important Oaks Pointer
The Musidora has 10 runners on the published racecards, with Legacy Link, Felicitas, Moments Of Joy, Sea The Storm and Symbol Of Majesty among the fillies listed for one of the most established Oaks trials of the British Flat spring.
The Group 3 is a £130k pounds contest, with more than £73k pounds to the winner, which keeps the race firmly in the main stream of the mid-May Classic picture.
Backed up with last year’s winner Whirl going onto run a close second in the Epson Oaks (watch below).
And the most recent heroine to land both races – Soul Sister in 2023 for the Gosden team.
York Dante Festival Race Dates, Cards, Times, ITV Schedule and Full Running Order
See below the full running order and race times for this week’s York Dante Festival – with five races live each day on the ITV Racing channel.
Wednesday 13th May – York Dante Festival Day One Races
- 1:45 – British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes (Colts & Geldings) (IRE Incentive Race) Cl2 (2yo) 5f RTV
- 2:20 – Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 1m4f ITV
- 2:55 – Churchill Tyres Handicap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 6f ITV
- 3:30 – Go Local Stores Minster Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (3yo+) 6f ITV
- 4:05 – Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) Cl1 (3yo) 1m2½f ITV
- 4:40 – Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap Cl3 (3yo 0-95) 7f ITV
- 5:15 – Stuey Weston & Friends Getting Out Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl4 (4yo+ 0-85) 1m4f RTV
Thursday 14th May – York Dante Festival Day Two Races
- 1:45 – Sky Bet ebfstallions.com Novice Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) Cl2 (2yo) 6f RTV
- 2:20 – Lindum York Handicap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 5f ITV
- 2:55 – Oakmere Homes Hambleton Handicap Cl2 (4yo+) 1m ITV
- 3:30 – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m2½f ITV
- 4:05 – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (3yo) 1m2½f ITV
- 4:40 – British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo) 5f ITV
- 5:15 – Frank Whittle Partnership Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl4 (3yo 0-80) 1m4f RTV
Friday 15th May – York Dante Festival Day Three Races
- 1:45 – Yorkshire Equine Practice Handicap Cl4 (4yo+ 0-80) 7f RTV
- 2:20 – Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes (Registered As The Michael Seely Memorial Fillies’ Stakes) (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo) 1m ITV
- 2:55 – Support Macmillan Charity Raceday On 13 June Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-100) 1m2½f ITV
- 3:30 – Design Tonic Out Of This World Spaces At The Races EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (2yo) 5f ITV
- 4:05 – Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m6f ITV
- 4:40 – Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap Cl3 (3yo 0-90) 5f ITV
- 5:15 – Darley EBF “Confined” Novice Stakes (For Horses With No More Than Two Runs) (GBB Race) Cl2 (3yo+) 1m RTV
Full Card Gives York a Solid Platform Before Thursday’s Headline Races
The Racing TV’s York racecards page shows a full seven-race card built around the Minster and Musidora on Wednesday
With supporting races including the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes, the Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap and the Churchill Tyres Handicap.
That means York’s opening day already carries meaningful sprint and middle-distance substance before the Middleton Stakes and Dante Stakes take over the spotlight on Thursday.
Where the Aidan O’Brien trained Christmas Day is hoping to deliver another Dante present for Ballydoyle.
As O’Brien looks to land the race for the first time since Cape Blanco won in 2010.
The Dante Stakes is one of the best Epsom Derby trials in recent times with 11 horses taking both races over the years.
Dante/Derby Winners
- 1960 – St Paddy
- 1978 – Shirley Heights
- 1986 – Shahrastani
- 1987 – Reference Point
- 1994 – Erhaab
- 1997 – Benny The Dip
- 2004 – North Light
- 2005 – Motivator
- 2007 – Authorized
- 2015 – Golden Horn
- 2022 – Desert Crown
WATCH: Desert Crown Winning The 2022 Epsom Derby
