A day at the races: Cazoo St Leger Festival at Doncaster

Looking for an exciting day out with friends or your partner? This has it all!

Every September, crowds flock to Doncaster Racecourse to experience the four-day Cazoo St Leger Festival; one of the premier sporting occasion of the Autumn Calendar.

Culminating in the Cazoo St Leger Stakes on the Saturday, this historic race- and has been won by some legendary horses and jockeys through the decades. This year, it takes place between Wednesday September 7 and Saturday September 10.

Throughout the four days you will see the best jockeys and horses on the flat-racing circuit, with superb facilities ensuring you can wine and dine in style as you enjoy the fun and spectacle of a day at the races.

This is one of the highlights of the year – don’t miss it!

The festival day by day

Here’s a rundown of what happens day by day.

Day 1 (September 7): The Cazoo St Leger Festival kicks off with a bang when retired celebrities of the saddle dust off their breeches and return to action in the feature event competing in the charity race, a contest run on the straight mile. This is a chance to see some legends in action in this fast-paced sport which can set the heart racing as you cheer on your favourite jockey. It’s a real crowd pleaser of a day.

Day 2 - Ladies Day (September 8): This is the day for the ladies (and the men) to get their glad rags on. It’s time to step out in style for one of Yorkshire’s biggest social occasions. This is a date for your diary to get together with your girlfriends and enjoy a grand day out. It’s fun for friends and partners, and the event attracts the finest of fashion, and the stakes are set high with the Style Awards as there’s a whopping £500 cash prize to be won. This is a day to see and be seen, to pop the prosecco perhaps or say cheers with Champagne as you watch the style of the racegoers as much as the races themselves

Day 3 - Doncaster Cup Day (September 9): The penultimate day of the iconic Cazoo St Leger Festival attracts some of the most prestigious racing of the week with the Doncaster Cup, the oldest race currently run under the rules of horse racing and final leg of the Stayer's Triple Crown, taking centre-stage.

Day 4 - Cazoo St Leger Day (September 10): This flagship day brings the four days to a dramatic climax. The biggest day of the week and home to the World's oldest Classic, final Classic of the season and last leg of the elusive Triple Crown the Cazoo St Leger Stakes. A well-known saying amongst the racing community states: “The fastest horse wins the Guineas; the luckiest the Derby – and the best horse wins the St Leger". The showpiece race consistently attracts leading stables across the country and boasts a glittering roll of honour with some of the most acclaimed horses in history.

History

Racedays at Town Moor have been drawing appreciative crowds for centuries and Doncaster has long been regarded as one of the finest racecourses in Europe and the best place for horse racing in Yorkshire. There are records of regular race meetings going back to the 16th century and in 1641 it became an official racecourse.

Doncaster made history in 1992 when it staged the first-ever Sunday meeting on a British racecourse- over 23,000 turned up despite there being no betting.

Book your tickets now

It’s time to get planning and get your friends together for a great day out. Booking for any of the days is quick and easy. Check out the website for more details and to book.