Grimthorpe Handicap Chase Club and director of Thirsk Racecourse, and the current Baron Grimthorpe, Teddy Beckett, is chairman of York Racecourse and racing manager to Khalid Abdullah. Grimthorpe Handicap Chase The Grimthorpe Handicap Chase is a National Hunt handicap steeplechase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of about 3 miles and 2 furlongs and during the race there are 19 fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late February or early March. Prior to the early 1980s the Grimthorpe Chase was run
St. Leger family Jean St. Leger (1160–1216) 'lived mainly on his French lands in Normandy whilst his brother Wizo cared for the lands at Fairlight in Sussex. As a result of his feudal duties, he accompanied the French King Philip August on his conquest of Normandy, placed thus in a bad position, in reprisal the English King confiscated his English lands and arrested him on reconquering Normandy. Jean was held prisoner at Corfe Castle in Dorset for many years. The Barons revolt allowed the St. Leger family to offer ransom/release aided by the English Master Templar Roger St. Leger on 30 Aug 1216.