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
Irish St Leger Trial Stakes Leger. The last horse to win both races in the same year was Flag of Honour in 2018. Most successful horse since 1989 (3 wins): Leading jockey since 1989 (5 wins): Leading trainer since 1989 (6 wins): Irish St Leger Trial Stakes The Irish St Leger Trial Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs (2,816 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in August. The event was originally called the Ballycullen