St Leger Festival Preview 2023

The Betfred St Leger Festival is one of the highlights of the flat racing season. Thousands attend to watch history in the making across four thrilling days of action and excitement. Culminating on the final day of the festival with the Group 1 Betfred St Leger Day, this historic race has been won by some legendary horses through the decades and jubilant crowds watch on to see a little piece of horse racing history each year. 

Doncaster Day One (Thu 14th Sep) : The two feature races are the May Hill Stakes & Park Hill Stakes 

The May Hill Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres)

The Park Hill Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 115 yards (2,922 metres) 

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Doncaster Day Two (Fri 15th Sep) : The two feature races are the Flying Childers & Doncaster Cup

The Flying Childers Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old horses. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 5 furlongs and 3 yards (1,008 metres)

The Doncaster Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 2 miles 1 furlong and 197 yards (3,600 metres), The earliest important race in Doncaster's history was the Doncaster Gold Cup, first run over Cantley Common in 1766. The Doncaster Cup is the oldest continuing regulated horse race in the world. Together with the 2 miles (3,200 m) Goodwood Cup and 2+1⁄2 miles (4,000 m) Ascot Gold Cup, the Doncaster Cup is part of Britain's Stayers' Triple Crown for horses capable of running longer distances. 

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Doncaster Day Three (Sat 16th Sep) :St Leger Day with the three main races the Park Stakes ,Portland Handicap and the St Leger inself

The Park Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 7 furlongs and 6 yards (1,414 metres)

The Portland Handicap is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 5 furlongs and 143 yards (1,137 metres) The event was established in 1855, and for a period it was known as the Portland Plate. The original course started opposite a coaching inn called Red House, and it featured a left-handed bend at about halfway. The race was later transferred to a straight course.

The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 115 yards (2,921 metres) Established in 1776, the St Leger is the oldest of Britain's five Classics. It is the last of the five to be run each year, and its distance is longer than any of the other four.

The St Leger is the final leg of the English Triple Crown, which begins with the 2000 Guineas and continues with the Derby. It also completes the Fillies' Triple Crown, following on from the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks. The St Leger has rarely featured Triple Crown contenders in recent decades, with the only one in recent years being the 2012 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner Camelot, who finished second in the St Leger. 

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Doncaster Day Four (Sun 17th Sep) : The two feature races are the Sceptre Stakes & Scarbrough Stakes 

The Sceptre Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 7 furlongs and 6 yards (1,414 metres)

The Scarbrough Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged two years or older. It is run at Doncaster Racecourse over a distance of 5 furlongs and 3 yards (1,008 metres)  

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(Selections posted later in the week)