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| Location | Doncaster, South Yorkshire |
|---|---|
| Owned by | Arena Leisure Plc |
| Screened on | Sky Sports Racing |
| Course type | Flat National Hunt, Left-handed |
| Notable races | Doncaster Cup St. Leger Stakes Lincoln Handicap |
| Official website | |



Doncaster Racecourse (also known as theTown Moor course) is aracecourse inDoncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's36 annual Group 1 flat races, theSt Leger Stakes and theRacing Post Trophy.
Doncaster is one of the oldest (and the largest in physical capacity) established centres for horse racing in Britain, with records of regular race meetings going back to the 16th century. A map of 1595 already shows a racecourse at Town Moor.[1] 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, and paid a man to keep the course clear during races.[2]
Doncaster is home to two of the World's oldest horse races:
The earliest important race in Doncaster's history was the Doncaster Gold Cup, first run over Cantley Common in 1766. TheDoncaster Cup is the oldest continuing regulated horse race in the world. Together with the 2 miles (3,200 m)Goodwood Cup and2+1⁄2 miles (4,000 m)Ascot Gold Cup, theDoncaster Cup is part of Britain's Stayers' Triple Crown for horses capable of running longer distances.
Ten years later the racecourse moved to its present location, and in 1776 Colonel Anthony St. Leger foundeda race in which five horses ran.[3] This race has remained in existence and has become the world's oldest classic horse 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-dayWilliam Hill St. Leger Festival, which is acclaimed as the premier sporting occasion of the autumn calendar. Doncaster has also taken over events whose traditional homes have closed, such as the Lincoln Handicap in 1965. More history was made at Doncaster in 1992 when it staged the first ever Sunday meeting on a British racecourse.[4] A crowd of 23,000 turned up despite the absence of betting.
The racecourse is used for other functions.[5] It regularly hosts conventions such as the Tattoo Festival and business meetings such as Doncaster Dynamites BNI[clarification needed] every Wednesday. The current[when?] membership committee of that BNI chapter comprises local Doncaster business people Michael Reeder, Ailsa Watson, James Criddle, Mark Appleyard, Jason Cole, Ian Smith and Andrew Isaacs.
Today the St. Leger Stakes remains the world's oldest classic horse race, and features in the horse racing calendar as the fifth and final Classic of theBritish Flat racing season. It is run every September.
Doncaster is a left-handed, pear-shaped track of around 1 mile 7½furlongs (3.1 km) which is mostly flat, though there is one small uphill section.[2] There are courses forFlat racing andNational Hunt racing. The racecourse is easily accessible by road, railway and air.
| Month | Day of week | Race name | Type | Grade | Distance | Age/Sex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Saturday | Great Yorkshire Chase | Chase | Handicap | 3m | 5yo + |
| January | Saturday | Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 2 | 2m 110y | 4yo + m |
| January | Saturday | River Don Novices' Hurdle | Hurdle | Grade 2 | 3m 110y | 4yo + |
| March | Saturday | Grimthorpe Handicap Chase | Chase | Handicap | 3m 2f | 5yo + |
| March | Saturday | Brocklesby Stakes | Flat | Conditions | 5f | 2yo only |
| March | Saturday | Cammidge Trophy | Flat | Listed | 6f | 3yo+ |
| March | Saturday | Doncaster Mile Stakes | Flat | Listed | 1m | 4yo + |
| March | Saturday | Lincoln Handicap | Flat | Handicap | 1m | 4yo + |
| September | Friday | Flying Scotsman Stakes | Flat | Conditions | 7f | 2yo only |
| September | Thursday | Sceptre Stakes | Flat | Group 3 | 7f | 3yo + f |
| September | Thursday | Park Hill Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 1m 6f 115y | 3yo + f |
| September | Friday | Flying Childers Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 5f | 2yo only |
| September | Friday | Doncaster Cup | Flat | Group 2 | 2m 2f | 3yo + |
| September | Friday | May Hill Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 1m | 2yo only f |
| September | Saturday | St. Leger Stakes | Flat | Group 1 | 1m 6f 115y | 3yo only |
| September | Saturday | Champagne Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 7f | 2yo only |
| September | Saturday | Portland Handicap | Flat | Handicap | 5f 140y | 3yo + |
| September | Saturday | Park Stakes | Flat | Group 2 | 7f | 3yo + |
| October | Saturday | Futurity Trophy | Flat | Group 1 | 1m | 2yo only |
| November | Saturday | November Handicap | Flat | Handicap | 1m 4f | 3yo + |
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53°31′13″N1°5′48″W / 53.52028°N 1.09667°W /53.52028; -1.09667