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A short history of the St Leger Stakes 

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Since 1776, there has been no sting attached to summer ending for UK horse racing enthusiasts as the St Leger Stakes arrives in mid-September to keep spirits high. First held two days after the autumn solstice 246 years ago, the St Leger Stakes’ place in the calendar provides cause for celebration every year as the nights slowly begin to draw in. Without question, the St Leger Stakes is now one of the most anticipated horse races in the world. Here is everything you need to know about this iconic showdown.

The St Leger Stakes

The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race that is run at Doncaster Racecourse every year. As for who is eligible to take part, three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies are open to enter, where they will run a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs, and 115 yards.

 

For those unfamiliar with the terminology used to describe the length of a horse race, the distance of the St Leger Stakes works out to be 2,921 metres – a fraction under three kilometres. Above all, the St Leger Stakes is a test of stamina for both horse and jockey who have to stay the distance under demanding conditions in order to win this historic race. In 2022, it was Eldar Eldarov who won the St Leger Stakes after putting in a show-stopping display.

The St Leger Stakes’ place in Britain’s five Classics

There are five races that make up Britain’s Classics. Here they are in chronological order: the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, 1,000 Guineas Stakes, the Oaks, the Derby, and lastly, the St Leger Stakes. Essentially, these five races draw the fastest three-year-old horses around, and any winner of a classic is considered one of the finest horses of their generation.

 


 

Indeed, the crème de la crème of Group 1 horse racing during the flat racing season can be found running in the British Classics every year. The St Leger Stakes is the final race of Britain’s five Classics as well as the longest of all of the races.

The Triple Crown

Additionally, the race in Doncaster forms part of something called the Triple Crown alongside the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and the Derby. Winning these three classics in a season is widely considered the most illustrious accomplishment in Thoroughbred racing, and with the St Leger Stakes as the final test of the Triple Crown, the sense of anticipation of history being made can be felt all over the world.

Of course, winning the Triple Crown is incredibly rare, with only 15 horses achieving the feat in history. The last winner came in 1970 when Nijinsky II won all three races.

The 2023 St Leger Stakes favourites

While there are no horses in the running to complete the Triple Crown in 2023, the world will still get to witness some of the fastest horses on the planet compete in Doncaster during the St Leger Stakes.

 


 

 

In particular, three-year-old colt Gregory is the favourite in the latest odds for race events this year. He is at 2/1 to win the St Leger Stakes and will undoubtedly get those at Doncaster Racecourse on their feet. Standing in Gregory’s way will be three-year-old filly Savethelastdance, who will arrive in South Yorkshire at odds of 5/1 to win the St Leger Stakes.

The future of the St Leger Stakes

After 246 years of high-octane drama, the St Leger Stakes is a race that has captured the imagination of horse racing fans the world over. As for what will happen over the next two and a half centuries, all eyes will be on the race in Doncaster to see if an elusive Triple Crown winner steps forward again.