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
St. Leger family Jean St. Leger was a Benedictine and Abbot of the Abbey of St. Wandrille, France, during the 14th century. Bishop Thomas St. Leger 1240–1320 was the Archdeacon of Kells around 1275 and is said to have raised money for the Crusades. In 1377, Thomas St. Leger, (the second son of Sir Ralph St.Leger, of Ulcombe), who resided at Otterden, became owner of East Hall Manor in Murston. His daughter was Joane, who then married Henry Aucher, esquire of Newenden. Sir Thomas Saint Leger was a Knight of the Order of the Bath and Ambassador to France. He along with Louis