Doncaster Racecourse
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| UK Racecourse | |
|---|---|
| Doncaster | |
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| Official site | |
| Location | Doncaster, South Yorkshire |
| Owned by | Arena Leisure PLC |
| Screened on | Doncaster |
| Course type | Flat National Hunt |
| List of UK racecourses | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| Chester | Epsom Downs |
Doncaster Racecourse (also known as the Town Moor course) is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England.
Doncaster is one of the most OLDDEST (and in terms of physical capacity - largest) established centres for horse racing in Britain, with records of regular race meetings going back to the 16th centuary. 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.
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 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-day Ladbrokes 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 Cup 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 the St. Leger remains the world's oldest Classic Horse Race and features in the Horse Racing calendar as the fifth and final Classic of the British Flat racing season. This pride of place every September on the famous Town Moor course.
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[edit] Specifications
Doncaster is a left-handed, pear-shaped track of around 1 mile 7½ furlongs which is mostly flat. There are courses for Flat racing and National Hunt racing.
[edit] Notable races
- Champagne Stakes
- Doncaster Cup
- Flying Childers Stakes
- Lincoln Handicap
- May Hill Stakes
- Park Hill Stakes
- Park Stakes
- Portland Handicap
- Racing Post Trophy
- St. Leger Stakes
- River Don Novices' Hurdle
[edit] Getting to Doncaster Racecourse
[edit] By Air:
The racecourse is 4 miles from Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield International Airport with daily flights to numerous locations across Europe and beyond including Dublin, Eire and Belfast, Northern Ireland.
[edit] By Car:
The racecourse is a mile from Doncaster town centre. From the south the A1(M) and M1/M18 are good routes. There are signs to the racecourse from the motorways.
[edit] By Train:
Doncaster station is a major UK Railway Station and is served by Northern Rail, Virgin Trains, GNER, TransPennine Express, Central Trains, Midland Mainline and Hull Trains. Doncaster is 1 Hour 35 Mins from London Kings Cross or 20 Mins from Sheffield Station (using direct services).
[edit] By Bus:
Buses 21, 25, 55, 55B, 57, 58, 58A, 59, 91, 191, 707 and X19 from the Interchange stop 300 metres from the racecourse itself.
[edit] External links
