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
BetVictor Handicap Chase BetVictor Handicap Chase The BetVictor Handicap Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt race in Great Britain. It is a handicap steeplechase and is run at Cheltenham Racecourse in November, over a distance of about 3 miles and 3½ furlongs (3 miles 3 furlongs and 71 yards, or 5,496 metres). From 1987 to 1998 the race was known as the Flowers Original Handicap Chase. The 1999 running was known as the Hoegaarden Handicap Chase. From 2000 to 2002 it was sponsored by Intervet and known as the Intervet Trophy. The 2003 race was run under the name of the Open