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
New Zealand St. Leger New Zealand St. Leger The New Zealand St. Leger is a major thoroughbred horse race run at Trentham Racecourse in New Zealand on New Zealand Oaks day in March each year. Run over 2500 m, it is a test of a horse's staying ability. Originally open just to three-year-old horses, the race is now open to both three- and four-year-olds. Although it has suffered a loss in prestige in recent years, it is still a good race for up and coming stayers, with the likes of Kerry O'Reilly and Ring Of Fire taking part in recent runnings. Among the best-known