More than 4,000 sign petition calling for St Leger to be stopped over Covid fears

The town’s annual biggest sporting spectacular is due to get under way next week – albeit with a vastly reduced number of racegoers – as part of the Government’s strategy of allowing spectators to return to live sport.

However, Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones has spoken out against the meeting taking place and now a petition calling for the four day meeting – which is due to begin next Wednesday – to be axed has attracted hundreds of signatures.

Petition organiser Chris Brodhurst-Brown says that the decision is an ‘insult’ to people in the town.

A post on the petition page HERE said: “Doncaster people have worked tremendously hard and made many sacrifices to keep Covid 19 levels in the town comparatively low.

"We feel that to hold the St Leger in 2020 will create large amounts of unnecessary risk and could undo the amazing efforts of people in our community.

"To put 6,000 people together in one place, over several days, with alcohol in play, is an insult to those who have gone without seeing family for a very long time, those who have assiduously shielded for many months, those key workers who have worked their socks off whilst, literally, risking their lives and to all of us who have played the game and followed the advice.

"We would call on the Mayor, Ros Jones to work alongside Public Health and South Yorkshire Police on a campaign to stop this event taking place. We need to do all we can to keep one another safe and to prevent further lock downs.”

Last week, Mayor Jones revealed that the Government decided to allow the festival to go ahead without consulting the Council, and against her wishes.

She said: "We have been coping well in Doncaster, but this could all be put in jeopardy. I ask anyone thinking of attending the event to be sensible, try to maintain social distance and look after yourselves.”