Doncaster Racecourse its present location and in 1776 Colonel Anthony St. Leger founded a race in which five horses ran. This race has remained in existence and become the world's oldest classic horse race. During the first world war the racecourse was used for military purposes and substitute races were run at Newmarket from 1915 to 1918. Doncaster has the distinction of both starting and ending the flat season on turf. Every September, Doncaster hosts the prestigious four-day William Hill St. Leger Festival, which is acclaimed as the premier sporting occasion of the Autumn calendar. Doncaster has also taken over events whose
Gunner B offered at odds of 8/1 for the St Leger Stakes. He then produced a creditable effort in defeat in an on mile handicap at Beverley, finishing third under a weight of 141 pounds. When Gunner B contested the Gordon Stakes, a recognised St Leger trial at Goodwood however, he ran poorly and finished last of the six runners. Gunner B bypassed the St Leger, running instead in the Doonside Cup over eleven furlongs at Ayr Racecourse in which, ridden by Mercer, he was required to concede weight to older horses including Patch (Great Voltigeur Stakes), Rymer (Brigadier Gerard Stakes) and