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
Norman (horse) Signorinetta. In September he was fancied to run well in the St Leger but made no impact as he came home last of the ten runners behind Your Majesty. In October, the colt returned to winning form when he took the Newmarket St Leger over one and three-quarter miles. Norman remained in training for at least two more years but failed to win any more major races. In March 1910 he finished third behind Cinderella and Forerunerr in the Lincolnshire Handicap. Later that month he a second when favourite for the Newark Plate at Nottingham Racecourse. In their book, "A