'There are a lot of drunk people - the police have their hands full' KNAVESMIRE NIGHTMARE.

Byline: David Carr takes to the streets of York to gauge the impact of yesterday's abandonment

Mandy Pegg, manager of Three Legged Mare pub in High Petergate

"We get a lot of people in when racing is on - it was very busy in here last night - but to be honest racing being off will probably actually benefit us, if word gets round that we are a good pub. If people have come up to stay for the week they will be wandering around the town."

Jim Hardie, owner of the Blue Bell pub in Fossgate

"We are a small pub and we haven't allowed racegoers in. There is a sign up saying 'private party'. There are a lot of drunk people in York this afternoon, rather than arriving after racing this evening and the police will have their hands full - there will be hell on in York tonight."

Michael Edmondson, manager of Melton's Restaurant on Scarcroft Road

"We are halfway between the racecourse and the city centre and it has made a big difference for us - we picked up a table of 30 who had been booked in at the course to celebrate a daughter's 21st birthday, so that was a big bonus for us. We have had one or two cancellations, but they have tended to re-book for later in the week."

Natasha James, manager of La Tasca restaurant in Swinegate

"We were expecting it to be busy at lunchtime and it was actually quite steady, but judging by the number of phone calls we have been getting there is going to be a big increase this tea-time and early evening. And there will be a lot more walk-in trade - the town centre is absolutely heaving."

Keith Hatfield, director of Station Taxis

"It is obviously a big meeting and a big day for everyone and it is a disaster for the city. There has been a downturn for us and I would say our business is probably down 30 per cent or 40 per cent. But what can you do? It is an act of God, as they say."

Martin Fearn, morning shift supervisor at Streamline Taxis

"It has had a vast effect on us. This would be our busiest week of the year and I would say we are 60 per cent down on the normal Tuesday of the Ebor meeting - fingers crossed they get back racing later in the week."

David Knaggs, managing partner at the Leeds office of Irwin Mitchell solicitors, sponsors of the nursery on yesterday's card

"It is obviously very disappointing; this is the fifth year we have sponsored the nursery and it has become an annual event that we look forward to. We have the sponsor's box in the County Stand and there were due to be 40 of us in there, ten from the firm and 30 guests, so there was a lot of ringing round in the morning to stop people travelling, and we are all back in the office. We are covered through the course but financially it is such a shame for York racecourse, as they have worked so hard."

Bill Woolley, director of city strategy at City of York Council

"We're obviously hugely disappointed that racing was abandoned, especially given the quality of today's card. The Ebor festival brings thousands of visitors to York, many of whom visit the city's bars, restaurants, hotels and attractions. The abandonments are a blow not just to York racecourse, but to the city itself. We are working closely with York racecourse to do all we can to ensure that the rest of the festival can go ahead, and have tweaked the traffic arrangements to make it easier for racegoers to get into and out of those car parks that are in use."

Ben Young, marketing assistant at the Jorvik Viking Centre attraction in York

"We hope it has had a positive effect for us, though it is hard to be sure as this is our busiest period and visitor numbers are high at this time of year - but we do say that generally if it rains it is good for the Jorvik Centre."

Graham Sparkes, chairman of Patrington Haven Leisure Park, sponsors of the last race on yesterday's card

"We lost our race but I am very surprised that we are the only ones who still turned up and used our box for entertaining. We had people coming from all over, from Worcestershire, from Kent, from all over Britain, and that made it very difficult. Obviously, it is very disappointing, but this is a super place, my favourite course, and this is what you have got to do - this is the British weather."

Len Cruddas, chief executive of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

"The loss of racing is disappointing and it will have a mixed effect on businesses in the city. Some may actually do better during the day as people who have come up for the whole week find themselves at a loose end, and there are few better places to be at a loose end than York; there are plenty of other things to offer for frustrated racegoers. We have lost the day-visitors and we will not get them back but, thankfully, this is a very rare occurrence."

CAPTION(S):

Afternoon delight: frustrated would-be racegoers had to make the best of a wet and windy alternative day out yesterday, and it was thirsty work, with many of York's restaurants and bars reporting a boost in trade EDWARD WHITAKER/RACINGPOSTPIX.CO.UK