A total of almost £3 million in prize money is up for grabs as Goodwood's new season goes under orders next week.

The track's traditional three-day curtain raiser gets under way on Tuesday, May 22 and is followed by a further 17 meetings through to September 27.

The Sussex Stakes, with prize money of £270,000, is by far the most valuable prize on offer. Won last year by the top class Irish horse Giant's Causeway, the Group One race is scheduled for August 1.

That is the second day of the five-day Glorious Goodwood festival when record prize money of £1.6 million will be on offer, including £135,000 in the Nassau Stakes, a race which went to Clive Brittain's Crimplene last year.

A further £85,000 is on offer to the winner of the Stewards Cup, one of the biggest betting races of the year. Last year the prize went to Tayseer, trained by sprint king David Nicholls, and a probable field of 30 will go to post this season.

The track's traditional evening meetings take place on the last four Fridays in June and there are two Sunday fixtures on July 1 and August 26.

While the season promises to be a busy one, the racecourse has also been a hive of activity during the closed season.

Contractors have been at the course since last September developing a new parade ring, winners' enclosure and weighing room.

With the wettest winter in 300 years last year they ended up in a race against time to ensure the course is ready for next week.

And, although not all areas will be fully landscaped by the opening fixture, it will still be business as usual at Goodwood.

The £5 million scheme has centred on the paddock which had been unchanged since 1976. By cutting into the slope of Goodwood Hill, the project has increased the viewing capacity from 2,000 to 5,000 people while also doubling the size of the winners' enclosure.

The new weighing room is underground and racegoers will also notice three new entertaining pavilions, a redeveloped west entrance and new horsewalk restaurant, named after one of Goodwood's most famous horses Double Trigger.