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 Castle in Kent for his service to the King. His descendants from both Irish branches, Doneraile and Heywards Hill, are today scattered throughout the world. Members of this ancient family now live in England, Ireland, France, South Africa, the US and elsewhere. There are now 2 bloodline Heywards Hill St Legers in Scotland for the first time since the Norman Invasion. St. Legers of notable historical interest include: St. Leger family The St. Leger family ( ; Latinized to "De Sancto Leodegario") is an old Anglo-Irish family with Norman roots, that in some cases transformed into Selinger or Sellinger. It