Horse Racing
September 2015St Leger Festival Doncaster
First run in 1776, the St Leger Stakes is a flat race for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is the world's oldest Classic race, and the only one staged by a racecourse in the north of England - Doncaster's Town Moor, which has been completely redeveloped in the past few years.
During the four-day St Leger festival, held in mid-September, marquees are erected by the winning post, on the lawns of the former paddock area and by the centre of the course, offering champagne and food.
Dress codes for the Premier Enclosure are jacket and tie for gentleman and smart attire for ladies - no jeans, trainers or sportswear. In the County Enclosure and Private Boxes smart casual clothes are required - a collared shirt for gentleman, and smart dress for ladies. There is no dress code in the Grandstand Enclosure, but on Thursday (Ladies' Day), aspiring prizewinners should dress to impress, if they want a chance to enter the Best Dressed Lady Competition.
Also staged at the Doncaster St Leger Festival is the Tote November Handicap, held to celebrate the last day of the British Flat season and featuring end-of-season awards and a party, with presentations to the champion trainer, owner, jockey and apprentice. First run at Manchester Racecourse in 1876, it transferred to Doncaster in 1964.
