History HISTORY ST LEGER WINNERS Doncaster is one of the oldest established centres for horse racing in Britain, with records of regular race meetings going back to the 16th century. In 1600 the corporation tried to put an end to the races because of the number of ruffians they attracted, but by 1614 it acknowledged failure and instead marked out a racecourse. Ladbrokes St. Leger Festival The earliest important race was the Doncaster Gold Cup, first run over Cantley Common in 1766, ten years before a move to the racecourse's present location. 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 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 St. Leger Festival, which is acclaimed as the premier sporting occasion of the Autumn calender.

Doncaster has also taken over events whose traditional homes have closed, such as the Lincoln in 1965. More history was made at Doncaster in 1992 when it staged the first ever Sunday meeting on a British racecourse, a crowd of 23,000 turned up despite there being no betting. Today, after more than four hundred years of racing, the St. Leger is undoubtedley still the highlight of Doncaster's year. Throughout the racing calendar there is a full programme of top class racing, with flat racing in the summer and jumping action all winter. early leger Early running of the St Leger B&W Historical Jockey John Singleton with the first ever St Leger winner in 1776 Allabaculia The Lincoln THE WILLIAM HILL LINCOLN FACTS AND FIGURES A race called the Lincolnshire Handicap was first run over two miles at Lincoln in August, 1849. In 1853, a new fixture was staged at Lincoln in February and featured a race called the Lincoln Spring Handicap,run over a mile and a half and won by Caurire.

The distance of this contest was reduced to a mile in 1855 and moved to a date in March. In 1859, the two races merged to become the Lincolnshire Handicap, run over a mile in March. The Lincolnshire Handicap was run at Lincoln (AThe Carholme@) up to and including 1964. Following that course's closure, the race moved to Doncaster in 1965 and was renamed the Lincoln Handicap. Along with the Grand National, the William Hill Lincoln forms the ASpring Double.@ Jockey Dave Dick achieved the unique distinction of winning both races - he scored in the Lincoln of 1941 on Gloaming, carrying just 7st 4lb and went to triumph in the ADevon Loch@ Grand National of 1956 on ESB, who shouldered 11st 3lb to victory. During World War II, three runnings were held at Pontefract (1943-1945). The 1916 renewal was at Lingfield, while there was no race in 1917 or 1918 due to World War I.

Due to a Â£34 million redevelopment at Doncaster, the 2006 renewal was held at Redcar, while in 2007 the race was hosted by Newcastle. It returned to a revamped Doncaster in 2008. The dozen winners of the William Hill Lincoln between 1926 and 1937 (King Of Clubs (1926), Priory Park (1927), Dark Warrior (1928), Elton (1929), Leonidas II (1930), Knight Error (1931), Jerome Fandor (1932), Dorigen (1933), Play On (1934), Flamenco (1935), Overcoat (1936) and Marmaduke Jinks (1937)) gave their names to the horses used in the popular board game Totopoly. There have been only two dual winners of the William Hill Lincoln - Ob (1906 & 1907) and Babur (1957 & 1958). No horse has managed to win more than once since the race was transferred to Town Moor.

The biggest shocks came with the 100/1 shots King Of Clubs (1926), Elton (1929) and Jockey Treble (1947). Since it has been run at Doncaster, the biggest-price winner was the 50/1 shot Bronze Hill (1973) while there have been six 33/1 successes during the same period - Southwark Star (1975), Cuvee Charlie (1988), Evichstar (1990), Roving Minstrel (1995), Stone Ridge (1996) and Zucchero (2002). The shortest-price winner was Saucebox (1855, Evens). During its time at Doncaster, eigth favourites have obliged - Riot Act (1966), Captains Wings (1978), Cataldi (1985), Right Wing (1999), John Ferneley (2000), Nimello (2001), Stream Of Gold (2005) and Expresso Star (2009).

Since its transfer to Doncaster, the most successful trainer has been Paul Cole, with three wins (Kuala Lipis 1997, John Ferenely, 2000 and Nimello, 2001). Jimmy Fortune, successful in 2000, 2001 and 2009, is the only jockey since 1965 to win the race on three occasions. Richard Quinn and Jimmy Quinn are the only other current jockeys to have won the race twice, joining Scobie Breasley, Sandy Barclay, Edward Hide and Greville Starkey. The Lincoln was one of the few races to elude Lester Piggott. Since 1965, Cataldi (1985) and Babodana (2004) share the honour of having carried the biggest weight to victory - 9st 10lb. The lowest winning weight during the same period was the 7st 3lb carried by Southwark Star (1975). The Grimthorpe Chase Historical Doncaster This Doncaster race has a long and varied history but is now a prime stop on the road to Aintree.

The Grimthorpe Chase, run here at Doncaster, has had a varied and intermittent history. Some years it dipped out of the programme book completely while at other times the distance of the race has been radically altered. However in the spirit of Charles Darwin, whose The Origin of Species is currently celebrating its 150th anniversary, the Grimthorpe which may once have been teetering on the edge of extinction has adapted to suit prevailing conditions evolving into a leading Grand National trial. The eponymous Grimthorpe family have been involved in racing for many years. Ralph Beckett, the third Baron Grimthorpe owned Fragrant Mac, who won the 1952 Scottish Grand National, as well as Fortina who was victorious in the 1947 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Fortina went on to sire Fort Leney and Glencaraig Lady who emulated his feat at Prestbury Park. Christopher Beckett, the fourth Baron, was a member of the Jockey Club and director of Thirsk Racecourse.

Prior to the early 1980s the Grimthorpe was run over two miles and 150 yards, taking place on the same card as the Rossington Main Hurdle. The distance was then upped dramatically nearly doubling to a stamina testing four miles and 100 yards. The 1987 renewal, over the longer trip, included the winners of the last three Scottish Nationals in the form of dual-winner Androma and Hardy Lad. The latter won the race however third-placed Little Polveir went on to win at Ayr, reversing the placings with Hardy Lad, and followed up two years later in the Grand National. The distance was changed again to the current trip of three and a quarter miles in the 1990s when it was run as the Velka Pardubicka Grimthorpe Chase. This provided a tie-in with the famous race run in the Czech Republic (previously Bohemia) which is an exacting challenge over varied obstacles, including sections over ploughed fields.

The Velka Parubicka course was based on the Grand National course of the 1880s inspired by the Aintree success of Bohemia-born Count Kinsky on his own Zoedene. The St. Leger Stakes Details and History FAQ St. Leger Stakes Horse Race The St. Leger Stakes is a major horse race in Great Britain that takes place annually in September. It's the last of the Triple Crown horse races to be run each year and is also run over the longest distance. The St. Leger Stakes is one of the oldest horse races in the world, dating back to the 18th century. Although considered very prestigious, many owners choose to leave their horses out of this tough race because of the distance. Nonetheless, the race still attracts a high standard of horse. More details on the St. Leger Stakes are found below. Race Details The St. Leger Stakes takes place in September every year at the Doncaster Racecourse in England. It's a flat race on grass, open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds. Geldings are excluded from the race: only colts and fillies are allowed to enter.

As mentioned, it's a long race and the official distance is 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards. This equates to 2937 meters, and the St. Leger Stakes is over 2 furlongs longer than the Belmont Stakes : the longest of the US Triple Crown races. The prize pool is over £500,000, and the winner is awarded around £300,000. History of the St. Leger Stakes The St. Leger Stakes was founded by Charles Watson-Wentworth, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. It was his horse that won the inaugural race in 1776. At that time, he had not named the horse (it was later named Allabacullia) and had not formally named the race either. It was suggested to the Marquess that the race should be named the Rockingham Stakes after him. However, he declined the suggestion and instead named it after Anthony St. Leger: an army officer who had first proposed the idea of the race. The race was originally run over a full two miles, held at Cantley Common.

It was moved to its current location after just two years, but the distance was not cut until 1813. Not much has changed since then. The race has been moved to different locations on a few occasions, notably during the First World War when it was switched to Newmarket and briefly renamed the September Stakes. The event was cancelled in 1939 when the Second World War broke out; between 1940 and 1945, it was held at a variety of courses including Manchester Racecourse and Thirsk Racecourse. 1939 remains the only year the race was not run at all. There are a number of other races held throughout the world inspired by the St. Leger Stakes, which use the same name. These include the Irish St. Leger, the French St. Leger, the New Zealand St. Leger, and the VRC St. Leger. Betting on the 2017 St. Leger Stakes The St. Leger Stakes attracts a lot of interest from horse racing bettors around the world, and there's usually plenty of speculation about which horse will win.

Although there's usually ante-post (or futures) betting markets open well in advance of the race, it's usually best to wait until nearer the time before placing any bets. In the run up to the 2017 St. Leger Stakes, we will take a look at the runners and riders and put up a betting preview on this page. Please check back a week or two before the race. Article Details Georgian Index - Horse Races and courses Races and Courses in Britain The first horse races on established English race courses were match races between two horses run over a course of four or five miles until a horse had won twice. When the new Thoroughbred races became established, multi-day meets, breeders and bookmakers added other sporting activities to take advantage of the crowds. Cockfighting was one of many sporting events often taking place at race meets. As the atmosphere became more hectic those connected with horse racing found themselves in the position of competing for the attention of fans with the now numerous peripheral activities. A race with a large number of horses and shorter races allowing for more races per day kept the racing fan excited and offered a better investment return for breeders.

Races became dashes of a mile-and-a-half, measured in eighths of a mile called furlongs, for a number of horses. Five races came to make up the English Classic Flat racing season: the Derby and Oaks, (both at Epsom Downs); the 2000 guineas, and the 1000 guineas (both at Newmarket), and the St. Leger. Races were mainly regional competitions because race horse's had to be walked between venues with care so that they did not arrive exhausted. The journey between Newmarket and Epsom was typically five to seven days and up to three weeks between Goodwood and Doncaster. It wasn't until 1836 that John Doe came up with the idea of having coach horses pull the race horse Elis to a distant meet in a van. Epsom Downs; The Oaks and The Derby There were annual races at Epsom Downs by 1730.

The course at Epsom is a dog-leg that is "all up and down with sharp corners." Sir Charles Bunbury (1740-1821), 6th Baronet of Barton, and Edward Smith Stanley (1752-1834), the Twelfth Earl of Derby, had the idea of a single race over a mile and a half for three-year-old fillies. Derby won the first running of the Oaks with Bridget on a Friday in May of 1779. The all-fillies race took it's name from Derby's home near Epsom, a former ale house, known as the Oaks. At a party after the running of the Oaks, a race open to colts was conceived. Lord Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury allowed the legendary coin toss to decided who should have the hon our of naming it. Lord Derby called the toss. On Thursday May 4, 1780 nine colts lined up to compete in the first running of the Derby. Bunbury won the first race with Diomed. The first four races were run over a course of a dog-leg mile and carried a first prize of 1,075 Guineas.

Later the Derby course was lengthened to the same mile-and-a-half or twelve furlongs as The Oaks. Newmarket Races The first recorded race at Newmarket took place in 1622. It was a match race between a horse belonging to Lord Salisbury and a horse of the Marquis of Buckingham. Buckingham's horse won the prize of the then enormous sum of �100. It was the ardent racing fan King Charles II who made Newmarket truly fashionable and horse racing "The Sport of Kings". Charles II employed gentleman-architect William Samwell to build a two-story brick pavilion for him at Newmarket. Work began late in 1668 and were completed in 1671. He moved his entire court there from London for the spring and fall races. Prior to 1753 there were 2 races per year, of 6-8 miles in Spring and in October. From 1753 there were 7 meetings a year run over the 4 mile Beacon Course. Lord Bath wrote a description of racing on Newmarket Heath that appeared in The World Vol. 1, No.

17, in 1753: "When the horses are in sight, and come near Choak Jade, immediately the company all disperse, as if the Devil rose out of his Ditch and drove them, to get to the turning of the lands, or some other station for seeing the push made. Now the contention becomes animating: 'tis delightful to see two, or sometimes more, of the most beautiful animals of the creation, struggling for superiority, stretching every muscle and sinew to obtain the prize and reach the goal! to observe the skill and address of the riders, who are all distinguished by different colours of white, blue, green, red or yellow, sometimes spurring or whipping, sometimes checking or pulling, to give fresh breath and courage! And it is often observed that the race is won as much by the dexterity of the rider, as by the vigour and fleetness of the animal." The Duke of Portland and Lord Lowther greatly improved Newmarket during the Regency period by eliminating old road tracks, using grazing sheep and burning to improve the smoothness of the turf, and manuring to produce a lush cover.

The Craven, after Earl Craven, Easter Monday since 1771 The First Spring, Monday, a fortnight following. Second Spring, fortnight following est. 1753 2000 Guineas, May since 1809 1000 Guineas in May Run the day after the 2000 Guineas (always later in the month than the Oaks), est. 1814 First October, first Monday in Oct. Second October, Monday fortnight following, est 1762 Third Oct. or Houghton, fortnight following, inst 1770, lasts one week and ending the season. At Newmarket the Judges box is on wheels to be moved from finish to finish post (only at Newmarket).They proclaim winners by color. The course has been the property of the Jockey club since 1753. Betting posts were at various places on the grounds, for the 1/2 hour period between races. Winnings were paid the following morning in the town. The St. Leger The St Leger is the world's oldest Thoroughbred race.

It is the fifth and final Classic of the British Flat racing season. The St Leger held at Doncaster in September is a four-day meeting. Run over two miles, a longer distance than the Derby and the Oaks, the St Leger is more a test of stamina than speed. Racing at Doncaster in York predates the St. Leger. The Doncaster Cup has been run since 1766. Men knew the open Heath at Newmarket was a great place for driving and riding horses before the Roman's arrived. A group of sportsmen arranged a new sweepstakes race for 3 year olds over a 2 mile course at Cantley Common near Doncaster on September 24, 1776. Early in 1778 at a dinner held at the Red Lion in Doncaster for the race subscribers, Lord Rockingham suggested the race be named for the popular Colonel Anthony St. Leger of Park Hill, near Doncaster. It was run for the first time with the name St Leger in 1778. That year it was moved to the Town Moor. In 1803 the King's Plate from the defunct Burford Meeting was transfered to the St. Leger.

Architect John Carr (1723-1807) built a new grandstand in 1806. For the the first 30 years of the 19th Century the St. Leger was the most successful of the race meetings. In 1813 the racing distance was reduced to 1 mile 6 furlongs 193 yards. From 1814 it was run on the St. Leger Course. The St. Leger course was a broad straight 'galloping' track. The race has had problems and controversy. The 1819 race was run twice. There was a chase to distant betting towns when the favorite was pulled up in training. Antonio won, but the local stewards ordered a second running in which Antonio did not compete. The Jockey Club overruled the stewards and returned the title. In 1829 there was such an invasion of roughnecks and cheats that they had to be chased out of town. Ascot While Queen Anne was riding on the edge of Windsor Great Park in 1711, she noticed a natural clearing near the village of East Cote.

Queen Anne ordered her Master of the Buckhounds, The Duke of Somerset, to lay out a course 'for horses to gallop at full stretch'. The Royal Racecourse was Ascot. The original course was designed by the Duke and constructed at a cost of some 606 pounds, 17 shillings and 1 pence. The first day's racing was held on Saturday 11th August 1711 and the second on Monday 13th August when horses competed for The Queen's Plate worth �100. In 1714 racing was cancelled following the death of Queen Anne. Subsequently there was only one more day's racing before the course was closed. The Duke of Cumberland took up residence in one of the Lodges in Windsor Great Park and began breeding race horses at Cranbourne Lodge . He revived Ascot. The first four-day meeting was held in late June 1768, and has continued to the present day. George IV began the Royal Procession in 1825.

Goodwood The Goodwood racecourse, called the "most beautiful racecourse in the world", is northeast of Chichester in West Sussex on the Goodwood estate, ancestral home of the Dukes of Richmond. The Goodwood Cup Races are held starting on the last Tuesday of July, and lasting four days. The principal race is Thursday, called the "Cup Day." The course was created by Charles Lennox (1735-1806) the 3rd Duke of Richmond on a part of the estate called Charlton Downs. The first race, in 1801, was organized for the officers of the Sussex militia, of which the 3rd Duke was a Colonel, and for members of the Goodwood Hunt. It was such a success that the race was expanded and made open to the public for the second race held on April 28, 1802. The Goodwood course was further improved by Charles Gordon-Lennox (1791-1860) 5th Duke of Richmond. The Goodwood was patronized by the Prince of Wales after he left Newmarket in a huff over the Escape affair in 1791.

Fleur-de-lis a mare owned by the Prince of Wales placed first at Goodwood, followed by two more of his horses at 2nd and 3rd, in a single race. The Jockey Club Rowlandson lampoons the members of the Jockey Club in circa 1790. The print portrays: Prince of Wales (at Center), Duke of York, Duke of Bedford, Duke of Bolton, Duke of Devonshire, Duke of Grafton, Duke of Norfolk, Duke of Queensbury, and Duke of St. Albans; Lord Barrymore, Lord Clermont, Lord Egremont, Lord Foley, Lord Grosvenor, and Lord Ossory; Sir Charles Bunbury, Sir John Lade, Mr. Fox, Mr. Panton, Mr. Vernon, and Mr. Wastell. In 1750 a group of powerful men interested in horse racing met at the Star and Garter Tavern in Pall Mall where they formed the Jockey Club . In 1752 the Club acquired land at Newmarket for a Coffee Room. In 1757 a dispute at Curragh was referred to the Jockey Club in Newmarket.

In 1758 the club drew up rules published by Heber. In 1762 the 19 member Jockey Club wrote complete rules of racing and sanctioned racecourses to conduct meetings under those rules. Standards were set defining the quality of races. A registry of colors for each racehorse owner in order to distinguish runners among a field of horses was established following a resolution of the Stewards of the Jockey Club dated October 4th 1762. Eighteen owners shared seventeen sets of colors in the first list published in the Racing Calendar. Since 1814, five races for three-year-old horses have been designated as "classics." Three of these races, open to colts and fillies, make up the English Triple Crown: the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, and the St. Leger Stakes. The other two races, open to fillies only, are the 1,000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks.

As Senior Steward of the Jockey Club, it was Sir Charles Bunbury who banned the jockey Sam Chifney for life after the suspect performances of a horse called Escape, owned by the Prince of Wales, in a race with Gray Diomed in 1791. On 20th October 1791 the Prince of Wales' horse Escape ridden by Sam Chifney was badly beaten at Newmarket, only to run again the next day and win easily at 5-1 against. There was an enquiry. The Prince of Wales gave Chifney �200 after he was banned. Bunbury was so disillusioned that he sold almost all of his horses and did not attend a race meeting for 14 years. The Jockey Club assigned James Weatherby , the club accountant, to trace the pedigree, of every horse then racing in England. Consolidation of a number of privately-kept pedigree records added to his own research resulted in a document published in 1791 as the "Introduction to the General Stud Book" .

The book listed the pedigrees of 387 mares, each of which could be traced back to Eclipse, a direct descendent of the Darley Arabian; Matchem, a grandson of the Godolphin Arabian; and Herod, whose great-great grandsire was the Byerly Turk. From 1793 to the present, members of the Weatherby family have meticulously recorded the pedigree of every foal born to those racehorses in subsequent volumes of the "General Stud Book". "Dictators of the Turf" 1st "Dictator of the Turf"--Charles II laid down Racing Rules and made himself Adjudicator and Court of Appeal.

2nd "Dictator of the Turf"--Tregonwell Frampton appointed Racing Manager by Charles II Influential Stewards Lord George Bentinck (1802-1848)--4th "Racing Dictator of the Turf," Admiral Henry John Rous (1795-1877)--steward from 1838, public handicapper from 1855, wrote The Laws and Practice of Horse Racing Officials The Jockey club laid down the rules for horse racing and created offices to carry out the rules. Much of the race day pomp was added by the Prince of Wales during his tenure in the Jockey Club. Buglers and outriders appareled in uniforms and the bugle call all add to the pageantry. The Clerk of Scales weighs out jockeys prior to every race and checks that correct weight, colors and number are carried. After the race he again weighs in jockeys to ensure correct weight was carried. The Bugler The bugler sounds the familiar "first call" based on the calvary "boots and saddle" bugle call as the horses step onto the track before each race. The Judges The St.

Leger Stakes - History, Race Information and Betting : 1 mile, 6 furlongs, 132 yards : Three year olds only The Inaugural St. Leger Stakes The St. Leger Stakes was the idea of Anthony St. Leger, an officer in the British Army and a Member of Parliament. He introduced the race to the British racing calendar with the assistance of Charles Watson-Wentworth, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. It was first run at Cantley Common, in September 1776, but it wasn’t actually known as the St. Leger Stakes then. The race was originally named “A Sweepstake of 25 Guineas”. The inaugural race was run over two miles, with colts and geldings having to carry eight stone and fillies receiving an allowance of two pounds. It was won by a filly owned by Watson-Wentworth. The horse was unnamed at the time, but later given the name Allabaculia. A New Name and Other Changes The St. Leger Stakes got its new name the following year.

A dinner party was held to discuss the second running of the race, and it was proposed that the race should be named the Rockingham Stakes after the Marquess of Rockingham. The Marquess himself, however, suggested it should be named after Anthony St. Leger, and the race was duly named the St. Leger Stakes. The new name was not the only change the St. Leger Stakes has undergone. In 1778 the race was moved to Doncaster Racecourse (known then as Town Moor), which has been home to the race ever since except on a few occasions when it has been moved for various reasons. It took place at various alternative locations during World War II, for example, and was run at York in 2006 due to Doncaster Racecourse being redeveloped. The distance of the race has also changed. It was reduced from two miles to one mile, six furlongs and 193 yards in 1813. There have been further minor changes to the distance over the years too. It is currently one mile, six furlongs and 132 years, which makes it the longest of the five British Classics.

Another change to the rules was made in 1906, when geldings were excluded from taking part. The Modern St. Leger Stakes As one of the British Classics – the oldest one, in fact – the St. Leger Stakes remains an important event in the racing calendar. It is part of the four day St. Leger Festival, which is considered a major highlight of the autumn schedule and attracts large audiences both at the track and on television. The prestige of the race is reflected in the size of its purse, which is well over half a million pounds. The role of the St. Leger Stakes as the final leg of the Triple Crown is less significant than it used to be though, as it is very rare for a horse to win both the Derby and the 2,000 Guineas these days. The only horse to do so in recent years was Camelot in 2012, but he could only manage second place in the St. Leger and so failed to win the Triple Crown. Betting On the St. Leger Stakes Like so many other top class horse races, the St. Leger Stakes is regularly a very competitive one.

There is occasionally a clear favorite for the race, but there are usually several horses in realistic contention. This makes it a difficult race to bet on. Ante-post betting is available months before the race takes place, but it is very challenging to pick a winner well in advance. With that being said, there is sometimes some value to be had in the early prices if you know what you’re looking for. If you leave your betting until nearer the time of the race, you’ll have a clearer idea of the form of the field. As the race is late on in the flat season, you will be able to see how the runners have performed as three year olds. This gives you much more to go on and, for most bettors, is probably the best approach to take. Recent Winners The following table shows the winners of the St. Leger Stakes over the last ten years, along with the jockeys, trainers, and owners.

Year St Leger Tips | Racing Tips | easyodds.com St Leger Tips Eamon Hanlon - 15:09, 12th September 2014 The oldest of the British classics, the St Leger was first run back in 1776 and is the final leg of the British Triple Crown last won by a colt, Nijinsky, in 1970 and by a filly, Oh So Sharp, in 1985. It is also the deepest test of stamina of the five classics being run over one mile and six furlongs and 132 yards. Paul Jacobs gives his early views of the race below. Doncaster Tips – Marzocco @ 33/1 Of course since I first penned this preview, straight after the Derby, plenty of water has passed under the Town Moor ante-post bridge. Below is the bulk of my original preview interspersed with updates through the last two and a half months. The obvious horse to take from the Derby, if as I hope Kingston Hill doesn't run at Doncaster, is the third home Romsdal.

John Gosden’s charge had every chance three furlongs out, but when the first two quickened again he simply couldn’t go with them, merely staying on at the one pace. However, top betting odds of 10/1 are attributable to that run but also the post-race comments of John Gosden, and make no appeal so far from the race and I would much rather look elsewhere for a wager at this early stage especially following a poor run at Ascot (King George) where he was never travelling at any stage of that contest. The postscript to Ascot is that he must be afforded another chance to show his King George run was all wrong on possibly slower ground. I feel that Marzocco is simply crying out for a real test of stamina at this relatively early stage in his career and view backed up by his running on fourth at York. However, I have been slightly put off by the negative comments from his trainer who feels even this extended one and three quarter mile test may prove too sharp. I would beg to differ and feel, given a good gallop, it could prove perfect for him although a bit of rain wouldn't go amiss.

GRANDDUKEOFTUSCANY also couldn't quicken on the fast ground at York and seemed to find things happening too quickly but he was thrown in at the deep end here and may be worth another chance to confirm O'Brien's high opinion of him if not in the final Classic of the season maybe lower down the staying scale. Looking to next year he could be the strong galloping type to make into an Ascot Gold Cup horse in 2015. Like many of the 15 strong field, including favourite Kingston Hill he too would be a better proposition on a softer surface. I have always been a huge fan of Alex My Boy, but ultimately this wasn't the ante-post race I had in mind for him. His wins at Haydock and back at Musselburgh probably left him 15lbs short of classic standard at that stage, but then he took another step forward in the March Stakes, a race in hindsight he should have won. Having backed him for next year's Ascot Gold Cup I am hoping Johnston doesn't over race him during the final few months of the year. Hartnell could yet enter my betting profile on this final Classic of the season after a cracking performance at Newmarket.

Forget his run at York as that was merely a speed test over 12 furlongs and I know he is highly rated by Mark Johnston, a race in which he finished behind Snow Sky. Both horses will probably improve for the step up to the Leger trip and are in turn preferred to Windshear. Rank outsider Mont Ormel wins Grand Prix de Paris at Saint-Cloud | Sport | The Guardian Rank outsider Mont Ormel wins Grand Prix de Paris at Saint-Cloud • British runner Red Verdon on course for St Leger after finishing second • Cristian Demuro celebrates triumph in Group One race on Bastille Day Cristian Demuro steers Mont Ormel, right, to success, with Red Verdon, second left, finishing fast to take the runner-up spot.

Photograph: John Gilmore Rank outsider Mont Ormel wins Grand Prix de Paris at Saint-Cloud • British runner Red Verdon on course for St Leger after finishing second • Cristian Demuro celebrates triumph in Group One race on Bastille Day Thursday 14 July 2016 14.34 EDT Last modified on Thursday 14 July 2016 19.35 EDT Close This article is 6 months old Red Verdon, who finished sixth behind Harzand in the Derby at Epsom in June, came up a length short of his first Group One victory after coming from last place on the home turn in the Grand Prix de Paris here on Thursday evening. He passed six of his seven rivals, but could not reach Mont Ormel, the outsider of the field, who gave trainer Pia Brandt her first Group One success at odds of nearly 18-1. Ron Arculli gambles a third time with Red Verdon in Grand Prix de Paris Read more Red Verdon’s run augurs well for his next major target, the St Leger at Doncaster in early September, over an extended mile and six furlongs.

For much of Thursday’s race, as was the case in the Irish Derby at The Curragh last month, he was towards the rear of the field, but he was able to come with a long, determined run under Vincent Cheminaud that seemed likely to carry him to victory with a furlong to run. It is 16 years since a British-trained horse took the Grand Prix de Paris, however, and one of the most prestigious races of the French season and a race that has taken on extra significance since the decision to reduce the distance of the French Derby from 12 furlongs to 10. The Grand Prix is now the most important race for three-year-old colts over the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe trip of a mile-and-a-half, and while it shifted to Saint-Cloud this year from its traditional home at Longchamp while the track is rebuilt, there were several colts in the field with the pedigree and profile to develop into Arc contenders.

None could cope with Brandt’s runner, however, and after hitting the front about a furlong out under Cristian Demuro, Mont Ormel stayed on well as Red Verdon’s run flattened out to win by a length and a quarter, with Cloth Of Stars, who finished eighth in the Derby at Epsom, another neck away in third. Beacon Rock, Aidan O’Brien’s only runner in the race, dropped away in the straight to finish last after setting a steady early pace. Brandt seemed as surprised as anyone afterwards that Mont Ormel had secured her first win at the highest level. “I was not expecting him to be ready to win a Group One, but we knew the horse had potential,” Brandt said. “He had been very childish until his last race, when he showed that he is becoming a real racehorse. “Today was very serious and he did exactly what his jockey asked him to do. We knew he was good, but we just weren’t sure he was ready.

We will see [about his future races], we did not expect to win a Group One so now we will have to talk about what we are going to do.” Ed Dunlop, Red Verdon’s trainer, said afterwards that he was “as delighted as you can be for finishing second” with the colt’s performance. This was the third race in a row for which Ronnie Arculli, his owner, had paid a supplementary entry fee , and the first in which he had recouped the investment. “We were planning to sit in the middle but we ended up last and he took off from a long way back,” Dunlop said. “In fairness, it looked like it was still going to be enough to win, and then he just flattened out a little. He’s improving very fast this horse, getting better with each race. He hasn’t won a Group One yet, but the way he’s going, he will win a Group One. We will put him away now and train him for the St Leger. William Buick banned for one month by ‘offended’ Chantilly stewards Read more “We will probably go for the Voltigeur [at York in August].

We’ve finally outdone the supplementary fee and he’s beginning to prove that he deserves to be in this company. He made up a lot of ground and we’d have liked to win, but he’s getting closer.” Red Verdon is top-priced at 12-1 for the St Leger with Ladbrokes. Horse Racing - Sport | Welcome to Yorkshire Share this page Horse Racing No other region in the UK is as passionate about horse racing as Yorkshire. The county is synonymous with the sport of kings, with no fewer than nine top class courses - more than any other region in the UK - holding over 170 meetings each year and home to numerous winning stables including Middleham, Malton and Richmond. Whatever style of racing you prefer, you'll be spoilt for choice in Yorkshire, with six flat racing courses at York, Beverley, Pontefract, Redcar, Ripon and Thirsk, a specialist National Hunt course at Wetherby, and dual courses offering monthly racing either on the flat or over jumps at Catterick in the north and Doncaster in the south.

Famous racing festivals staged in Yorkshire include the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor meeting and the St Leger at Doncaster - the oldest classic horse race in the world. Visitors wanting to purchase tickets should contact the relevant racecourse directly. Whether you are looking for a day out to celebrate a special occasion with family and friends, or want to entertain, reward people or if you want to enjoy a day at the races in comfort and style let Dine & View in Yorkshire arrange your perfect day at the races. Go Racing in 2016 Horse racing makes a great day out for family and friends Boasting more top racecourses than any other region of the UK, not to mention a string of successful stables and the Northern Racing College, Yorkshire is synonymous with the very best in British horseracing. There are nine Yorkshire racecourses - Beverley, Catterick, Doncaster, Pontefract, Redcar, Ripon, Thirsk, Wetherby and York. Our nine courses host 180 days of racing throughout the year, from the pure adrenaline of championship races to the relaxed informality of our family days.

Beverley Racing at Beverley has taken place since 1690 on the beautiful rolling expanse of common land known locally as the Westwood, just a short walk from the market town of Beverley. Beverley Racecourse combines a stunning location, great grass-roots racing, friendly staff, smart facilities, delicious food and a warm Yorkshire welcome to cement its reputation as one of the most charming and friendly courses in the North of England. The season starts in April and lasts until late September, with a whole range of themed meetings to suit all racegoers, from family days featuring petting zoos and Frozen singalongs, through to glamorous evening meetings. Entry starts from just £5 with under 18s going free. Beverley is the only Racecourse in the East Riding of Yorkshire, just 10 miles from the east coast city of Hull, and a short 13 mile hop from the M62, so really easy to get to with ample free parking when you do get here. Find out more... Catterick Catterick's 27 race meetings per year put it second only to Doncaster in the quantity of races hosted, but there's plenty of quality too.

One of just two courses in Yorkshire to offer both flat and National Hunt racing, Catterick Racecourse hosts meetings every month, and gets things underway as early as possible with the very first jumps gathering of the year on New Year's Day. You will find Catterick Racecourse (since 1783) in the hamlet of Catterick Bridge close to the Catterick Garrison, the worlds' largest British Army barracks, and home to around 12000 soldiers. The venue, close to the A1, is also home to Catterick Sunday market, the largest in the north of England Calendar In course's Flat season begins in March, with 17 meetings running right through to November. In December it's back to the fences again. And it never stops! Catterick's flat season includes three evening meetings. Doncaster Doncaster is a truly historic racing destination, boasting not just one, but two, of the world's oldest races and a heritage of regular race meetings dating back to the 16th century. The Doncaster Cup is the world's oldest continuously run race. The horses were first 'off' in 1766.

Just ten years later the legendary St Leger , named after Colonel Anthony St Leger, got underway, making it now the oldest of the five 'classics' (it's also the longest). Doncaster racecourse is one of only two in Yorkshire to offer both flat racing and National Hunt jump racing. It hosts races in every month of the year and can lay claim to be Yorkshire's most prolific track. Calendar When racing gets underway at Doncaster's classic Town Moor course, on the outskirts of the town, the world takes notice. The Lincoln meeting in April marks the start of the UK flat racing season, which also ends with Doncaster's November Handicap. The St Leger Festival in September features the last of the season's classics, and the longest at 1 mile 6 furlongs. Doncaster is easy to get to, by car via the A1, by train via the East Coast main line, or even by air to Doncaster Robin Hood Airport just seven miles away. Pontefract Pontefract, home of the rich and iconic liquorice cakes, has offered top notch horse racing for over two centuries. How do we know? Well, in 1802 members' badges were sold for £50!

Today you can enjoy the friendly flavour of this great Yorkshire racecourse for a lot less than that. Pontefract racecourse prides itself on catering for the racegoer, and is not short on experience. Not only has racing taken place in the town since 1648, but the current course was one of just two northern venues to have staged racing during World War II - proving Pontefract's 'show must go on' passion for horse racing that continues to this day. Pontefract's flat race meetings generate great atmosphere in intimate surroundings, and are invariably graced with competitive racing too. The home straight of over 2 furlongs, with the last 4 furlongs of the course uphill, guarantees some grandstand finishes among strong horses. Calendar Pontefract's flat racing season runs from early April to mid October and takes place on the longest continuous horse racing circuit in Europe at 2 miles and 125yds. The 16 meetings planned for 2013 include three evening meetings (including Pontefract's Got Talent, Singles Night and a beer festival) and three Family Day Sunday meetings, not forgetting Ladies Day in August.

Situated just off junction 32 of the M62 (the other side of the motorway from the Xscape snow zone) just outside the market town itself, Pontefract races offer a welcoming experience that attracts lively crowds of racegoers from across the north. Redcar Redcar is Yorkshire's only coastal town race course, situated a few miles north of Middlesborough near the mouth of the River Tees! Before today's course opened up its turf in the 1870s, racing actually took place on the nearby Sands of Coatham. More recently, Redcar, a former fishing community, provided the setting for the beach scenes in the recent Oscar-winning film Atonement. Redcar's modern racecourse is set in 72 panoramic acres, and easily accessed by road, rail and air, or even on foot from the town centre. Ripon More commonly known as Yorkshires Garden Racecourse, Ripon has hosted some of the most exciting and prestigious racing for more than 300 years. Impressing with its outstanding back drop, the racecourse is suitably located in one of the country's most beautiful and quaint cities.

With the market town being one of the oldest cities in England it is a great place to visit. With 16 flat meetings from April to September including stating special events such as Ladies' Day, Family Day and in mid-August the ‘Great St Wilfrid Stakes', it certainly is one of Yorkshires hidden gems. Ripon has hosted some of the most exciting, prestigious and enjoyable racing in the country for more than 300 years. It never fails to impress year on year with its outstanding back drop and exciting atmosphere. Always challenging itself to improve and build on spectator experience, Ripon has a lot to offer. Ripon Racecourse is known widely for its picturesque surroundings, and was fittingly presented with the Gold Rose Award by Yorkshire in Bloom; the regional body representing the Britain in Bloom campaign. We are one of the few racecourses to boast a giant screen, which is ideally located opposite the main stand adding to the excitement of each race; providing clear footage of all the action. You'll find all the action is situated close to the A1, 11 miles north of Harrogate.

Thirsk Thirsk's fame as the real-life setting for the work of author and vet, James Herriot, provides a backdrop for a visit to one of Yorkshire's most beautiful racecourses - Thirsk Racecourse . The compact and scenic circuit of this local market town, nestled in the broad vale in the Hambleton area between the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales, makes for a perfect day out for visitors to the region looking for a laid back racecourse with an excess of charm. There's great history too. Racing in the area began on the nearby Hambleton Hills almost exactly 400 years ago under King James I. More recently (the 1700s!) one of Thirsk's biggest races, the Thomas Lord Stakes, was named after Thomas Lord a local resident who became the founder of Lord's Cricket Ground. The current compact and attractive course in Station Road opened in 1855. Wetherby Yorkshire's only exclusively National Hunt Jumps Racecourse, with easy access to Wetherby Town, and only 12 miles from Leeds, Wetherby Racecourse is one of the most convenient and enjoyable places to follow National Hunt racing in Britain.

Wetherby's season runs from October throught to May, with approximately 17 fixtures between. While every raceday at Wetherby provides an exciting day out, the course does offer some highlight meetings which simply must not be missed... The bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting, is a two-day meeting which takes place in early November. The meeting, which offers a total of £245,000 in prize money, is a significant highlight in the National Hunt Calendar, and offers a quality two-day race programme, including two listed races on the first day and the John Smith's Hurdle and bet365 Charlie Hall Steeplechase on the second day. The £1000,000 bet365 Charlie Hall Steeplechase is widely acknowledged as one of the most important and influential early-season trials for top-quality chasers as they set out on the long road to the Cheltenham and Grand National Festivals. Previous recent winners of the race include Nacarat, Deep Purple, State of Play, Our Vic and Weird Al.

Another fixture which is a definite diary date is the Christmas Meeting, which takes place on 26th (Boxing Day) and 27th December. This meeting brings people together and offers an exciting day out for family and friends over the festive season. Over 20,000 people now attend over the two-days which generates an atmosphere that you simply have to be part of to fully appreciate. Join the Ritual this Christmas at Wetherby and make the day part of your Yorkshire Christmas. During the season Wetherby also provide a host of additional themed days, which as well as the racing action, provide a slightly different range of additional attractions and entertainment to suit all. Irish Day is a great day out for the lads, Family Day combines racing with fun-fair rides and a circus, while Ladies' Evening is a chance for everyone to really dress to impress. Find out more about Wetherby Racecourse and their calendar of races... York York Racecourse has long been known as the Ascot of the north, and truly lived up to that name in 2005 by brilliantly hosting the Royal Ascot festival, as the iconic southern course underwent redevelopment.

Since then the already world-class Knavesmire flat racing course and facilities at York have gone from strength to strength and, set in one of Britain's flagship heritage destinations, provide a truly memorable place to spend a day (or more!) racing, whether you attend one of its prestige festivals or a simple family Sunday. You will find the Knavesmire to the south west of York's historic city centre, just off the A64 and an easy 20-minute or so walk (or even easier bus ride) from its elegant East Coast mainline railway station, once the largest in Europe. If you are looking for a place in history, you'll certainly find it here. The Knavesmire has been home to racing in York for 280 years, but this city has hosted horse races since Roman times....2000 years ago!

Question: In horse racing, during which month is the St. Leger run?
Answer: September