The St Leger at Doncaster Racecourse in Yorkshire is one of the biggest contests of the season in Flat racing. Here is a look at what makes it such a special race.
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It Has Helped Inspire Virtual Racing
The success of the St Leger has helped inspire the latest form of horse racing. There is now virtual horse racing based on the British Classic. The virtual horses run over the same distance as the Doncaster showpiece event, and they take place daily. These virtual races give horse racing fans the same excitement as a real race and they can also place bets on the outcome.
Impressive Afternoon of Racing
St Leger Day is not just about the feature race, it includes three Group contests in what is an excellent card from start to finish. Many horse racing fans enjoy placing a Placepot bet on the day as this ensures they can enter a pool with the opportunity to win a significant return from a small stake through the Placepot dividends. Those involved in the placepot select runners in the opening six races on the card and their selection needs to finish in the placings in each of those contests to be successful. A dividend is paid depending on how many winning tickets there are after the six races.
Oldest British Classic
The St Leger is the oldest of the five British Classics. It was first held in 1776 when Allabaculia won the inaugural running for trainer Christopher Scaife. Since then, some of the best Flat horses in history have added their name to the roll of honour at Doncaster.
Unlike the 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and Derby, the St Leger comes later in the season. It means the leading three-year-olds have longer to prepare for the race. Horses tend to be at their peak when they feature in the 1m6f contest.
Final Leg of British Triple Crown
The British Triple Crown consists of the 2,000 Guineas/1,000 Guineas, Derby/Oaks and the St Leger. The race at Doncaster is the final leg of the prestigious treble. Oh So Sharp was the last horse to complete the British Triple Crown, as the star filly won the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger.
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Several horses have won the 2,000 Guineas/1,000 Guineas and Derby/Oaks before failing in the St Leger. The latter is the longest of the three races in distance, so stamina is severely tested. In 2012, Camelot prevailed in the 2,000 Guineas and Derby but had to settle for second place at Doncaster.
Winner Has a Big Career at Stud
The winner of the St Leger often goes on to have a very successful career at stud post-retirement. As a British Classic winner, their value at stud increases as breeders look to produce the next generation of horses that are faster and have stronger stamina.
2018 St Leger winner Kew Gardens retired from racing at the end of his four-year-old campaign in 2019. He became a stallion in 2020, standing at the successful Castlehyde Stud in Ireland. His offspring are now racing on the track and looking to replicate what their father achieved.
The next chapter in the history of the St Leger takes place on the 14th of September when the 2024 running of the British Classic is scheduled.