A RECORD number of people flocked to York Racecourse where four contestants from the hit TV show X Factor wowed the crowds with a headline performance.

Almost 36,500 punters descended on Knavesmire on Saturday for the second day of York’s Music Showcase weekend – making it the best-attended Music Saturday at the racecourse.

The entertainment continued after the racing, with X Factor singers Eoghan, Austin, Laura and Ruth taking to the stage.

James Brennan, marketing manager at York Racecourse, said: “It was an absolutely fantastic day. The atmosphere was buzzing all day and the sun shone on us.”

He said the occasion was made even better because there were Yorkshire-trained winners, including Zomerlust, trained by Malton-based John Quinn.

Jockey legend Frankie Dettori, who won Saturday’s feature race, The Sky Bet York Stakes, aboard Kirklees, treated onlookers to his trademark flying dismount. Referring to the record attendance, Mr Brennan said: “It’s great in what we know are challenging times for people that they all come out and have a great day and want to support racing in the city and enjoy the extra fun that was put on on Saturday.” He said the X Factor stars went down really well with the audience. “They were all very good,” he said.

The good weather also helped make the day enjoyable.

“The weather was kind to us,” he said. “People then are able to spread out and enjoy all the lawns and all the different extra space that we’ve got.”

He said that, as far as he was aware, the event had not been marred by any trouble among race goers. On Friday, some 10,000 people enjoyed the first day of the Music Showcase weekend. A steel band provided extra entertainment and golfing star Lee Westwood could be seen in the crowds cheering on his horse Hoof It, who is trained by Mick Easterby from his yard at Sheriff Hutton.