City of York Council's Executive will be asked to extend the lease of York Racecourse at a meeting later this month (20 November).

The track is currently let by a 99 year ground lease from January 1957. However, the racecourse has requested that its lease be extended to 99 years, from 2008 : with less than 50 years remaining on the lease, the  racecourse believes that it is not financially prudent to borrow further funds to maintain York as one of the premier racecourses in the country.

The current lease permits the racecourse to:
i) Retain and maintain the racecourse
ii) Construct and retain the Totalisator in the public part of the West Enclosure, opposite the main stands.
iii) Control admission to the Knavesmire and erect marquees etc during ‘Race Weeks', which are defined as being from the Saturday preceding any week during which racing takes place to the Saturday next following (both days inclusive).

Members will be asked to approve recommendations to:
- Surrender the existing lease for the racecourse in favour of a new 99 year lease, from 2008
- Include the remaining three acres of the West Enclosure in the lease, subject to public comments
- Make provision for an increase in the number of permitted Race Days to 20, with any others to be subject to approval of the council. There are 15 days planned for 2008
- To add the North Bend (as created for Royal Ascot at York) to the race track, in exchange for land on the Tadcaster Road straight
- To allow up to 10 days for the erection of hospitality marquees and four days for removal, instead of the current ‘Race Week’, (subject to approval of the council's Head of Parks and Open Spaces).

The council has already approved plans for the racecourse to build a safety road around the inside of the track that could be used by emergency vehicles and veterinarians. The new track could be used as a cycle track and footpath on none race days and the council will look into the possibility of connecting the track to Tadcaster Road via Cherry Lane, and to Campleshon Road.