Where is Doncaster Racecourse?
Best known as the home of the fifth and final British Classic, the St. Leger Stakes, Doncaster Racecourse, in South Yorkshire, has a long, rich history dating back to the sixteenth century. However, the St. Leger Stakes, named after its founder, Anthony St. Leger, was not run under its current name, in its current location, on Town Moor, until 1778.
Nevertheless, the St. Leger Stakes is the oldest of the Classic races and one of two Group 1 races run at Doncaster, the other being the Futurity Stakes in late October. The four-day St. Leger Festival in September also features half a dozen Group 2 races, namely the May Hill Stakes, Park Hill Stakes, Flying Childers Stakes, Doncaster Cup, Champagne Stakes and Park Stakes.
Doncaster also has the distinction of opening and closing the Flat season, on turf at least, with the Lincoln Meeting, in late March or early April, and the November Handicap Meeting. The remainder of the season is devoted to National Hunt racing, with principal races including the Great Yorkshire Chase in January and the Grimthorpe Chase in late February or early March.
Doncaster Racecourse is left-handed, galloping and, apart from a slight uphill climb over Rose Hill, a mile and a quarter from home, essentially flat. On the Flat, races up to a mile are run on the straight course, but there is also a round mile. Well-drained soil means that underfoot conditions rarely becoming testing, even during the winter months, such that the course provides a sound, but fair, test of racing ability.