Doncaster Racecourse

 

St Leger Stakes

12th September 2026

The St Leger Stakes is 250 years old!  Or was in 2026, so it might be a wee bit older now depending, of course, when you are reading this.

As Wikipedia states:

The event was devised by Anthony St Leger, an army officer and politician who lived near Doncaster.  It was initially referred to as "A Sweepstake of 25 Guineas", and its original distance was two miles.  The rules stipulated that colts and geldings were to carry 8 st, and fillies would receive an allowance of 2 lb.

The inaugural running was held at Cantley Common on 24 September 1776.  The first winner was an unnamed filly owned by the event's organiser, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham.  The filly was later named Allabaculia.

The title St Leger Stakes was decided at a dinner party held in 1778 at the Red Lion Inn located in the Market Place, Doncaster, to discuss the coming year's race.  It was initially suggested that it should be called the Rockingham Stakes in honour of the host, the Marquess of Rockingham, but the Marquess proposed that it should be named instead after Anthony St Leger.  

That year the event was moved to its present location, Town Moor, in 1778.

A chap called Bill Scott holds the record for the number of wins; he having done so nine times between 1821 & 1846.  Other well-known (meaning I have heard of them) former winners include Lester Piggott, Joe Mercer, Willie Carson, Pat Eddery and Frankie Dettori.

This afternoon, a new jockey's name was added to the illustrious list:  24-year old Saffie Osborne, who just so happened also to be the first female rider to win the race.

Well done, Miss. 

Doncaster Racecourse, also known as Town Moor.

Doncaster Racecourse parade ring.

Desert Falcon - Race Three

Al Shabab Storm - Race Three

Eternal Sunshine - Race Three

The winner of Race Three - Clifford Lee on Air Force One

I had a modest win on Race Four.
After shedding £30 on earlier races, I decided to stop my betting here,
so was able to walk out of Doncaster £5 in profit.

Saffie Osborne winning the 2026 St Leger Stakes on Highwayman.

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