Doncaster St Leger

The St. Leger is the original “Classic”, first run at Doncaster in 1776. It is quite daunting when at the course to see the board listing winners going back to the year of the American Revolution. Initially the race took place over two miles at Cantley Common, but in 1779 it moved to its present day home of Town Moor.

The race is named after an Irish gentleman soldier, and governor of St. Lucia, Lt.Col. Anthony St. Leger. Reputedly the correct pronunciation is something like “Salinger” but “Saint Ledger” is more often used these days.

St Leger

The St Leger at Doncaster’s Town Moor in September is the last chance of classic glory for many entries these days. No horse since the great Nijinsky has completed the “Triple Crown” of Guineas, Derby and Leger. Today many trainers prefer to send their Derby or Guineas winners to the Breeders Cup or France to compete in richer events, rather than test them over the marathon 1m 6f distance run in the St Leger.

United Kingdom Classic Races


In United Kingdom horse racing, The Classics are a series of horse races run over the flat (i.e. without jumps). Each classic is run once each year and is restricted to horses that are three years old.

The five races are:

  • Two Thousand Guineas Stakes
  • One Thousand Guineas Stakes
  • Oaks Stakes
  • Epsom Derby Stakes
  • St. Leger Stakes

The 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and the St.Leger together form the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.


The current distance of the race is 1 mile, 6furlongs and 132 yards (about 2900m). This is a little less than in “olden times”, but seen by many to be an outrageous test of stamina for a three-year-old. By comparison, the longest American Triple Crown event, the Belmont Stakes, is over 1 mile, 4 furlongs (2400m).

The St. Leger is the third leg of the English turf’s Triple Crown. Since the great Nijinsky prevailed in 1970, however, the race has become increasingly unfashionable with owners keeping at least one eye on stud values.

Indeed, some now argue that victory in the St. Leger would actually devalue a Guineas and Derby winner, highlighting stamina while implying a deficiency in the more lucrative attribute of speed.

Despite the attractions of other Autumn races such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Breeders’ Cup, the St. Leger remains a key feature of the racing calendar.