St Leger Horse Race

The St Leger Stakes is a 2600m race held at Randwick Racecourse in New South Wales each year. The St Leger Stakes (2600m) boasts a total prize pool of $500,000 and is for horses aged 3 years-old & older and is run under set weights plus penalties conditions. The St Leger Stakes 2021 will be run on October 16, 2021 at Randwick Racecourse.

The St Leger is the oldest of the classic races in the UK and is run over a trip of one mile and six furlongs (1m 6f) at Doncaster racecourse each September. Leger Stakes is one of the most famous horse races in Great Britain. That is a country whose citizens are known to place a wager or two on horse races. But in reality, there is interest throughout the world in St Leger Stakes betting, which is why you should learn the basics so you can participate as well. Leger (G1) race results, race date, entries, field, video, contenders, probables, news, notes, & comments. Horse Racing Galileo Chrome (right) wins by a neck in the St Leger Joseph O'Brien sealed a jockey-trainer St Leger double as Galileo Chrome won the final British Classic of 2020. The 27-year-old.

St Leger Stakes Background

The St Leger Stakes is Britain’s oldest classic race and takes place each September at Doncaster racecourse. The final classic of the season is open to both colts and fillies. Raced over 1 mile 6.5 furlongs. It is a supreme test of both stamina and ability for a 3-year-old racehorse.

It’s a race that has lost some of its prestige over the years it is fair to say. Indeed a very serious debate is happening right now regarding breeding in British racing. There is a significant move towards breeding horses with speed these days. Therefore races such as this one and even the Derby itself are somewhat under threat. It’s hard to imagine the Derby losing its place as the leading horse race in Britain. However, each year the St Leger becomes less attractive for owners to win in terms of overall season targets.

It is the final leg of the triple crown, but even that has become almost impossible to win now. Breeding a horse that can win the 2000 Guineas over a mile; the Derby over 12 furlongs; and the St Leger over 16.5 furlongs is an extremely difficult exercise in modern-day horse racing.

Nevertheless, it is still a race to get excited about. It is still a Classic after all.

A significant starting trend

Being a classic, it is a great race for trends. Horses usually take specific routes into classic races and it’s the same here. We start our search for the winner with one significant trend.

• 17/20: Previous Winners had recorded a minimum RPR of at least 113 in either the Great Voltigeur; Gordon Stakes; Irish or Epsom Derby or the Bahrain Trophy.

Two of the three exceptions had won a minimum 3 times that season and were late developers. We should look out of that type of profile when considering this overall trend.

The other exception is something we can draw a line through. In 2016 there was somewhat of a big shock when 22/1 outsider Harbour Law won making history for trainer Laura Mongan; who became the first female trainer to win the oldest classic. Probably the most eventful race of recent memory, it was a rousing 3 horse race at the finish as they hit the line. That didn’t tell the whole story however.

4/6F Idaho who would have passed this trend was travelling really strongly inside the last 3 furlongs. As he began to make his move, Idaho slipped slightly giving jockey Seamie Heffernan absolutely no chance to stay on. Idaho was a very solid favourite having been placed in both the Irish and Epsom Derby before taking the Great Voltigeur Stakes as 5/6F. He would very likely have won this race and we can draw a line through this year.

Trial races

Let’s have a deeper look at each of those 5 trial races this season starting with the Great Voltigeur Stakes.

• 9/20: Previous Winners had run in the Great Voltigeur Last Time Out; with a minimum RPR of at least 113 (Finishing positions 132112331)

Only one horse from this year’s Great Voltigeur meets that trend. Impressive winner, Pyledriver.

An RPR figure of 119, marks him down as an above-average Great Voltigeur runner. He must have a leading chance.

4/20: Previous Winners had run in the Gordon Stakes Last Time Out; with a minimum RPR of at least 114. (Finishing positions 1113)

Mogul was this year’s winner of the Gordon Stakes (RPR 113), but it was not a strong renewal on ratings. Furthermore, Mogul flopped next time out, finishing only third behind Pyledriver in the Great Voltigeur (RPR 109). As the 5-day declarations are confirmed, Mogul does not take his chance.

The winner of the Bahrain Trophy this year was Al Aasy. A beautifully bred Sea The Stars colt out of a Shamardal mare. He won well, but with an RPR of only 111, still had a little to find on trends. His last race in the Gordon Stakes allowed him the opportunity to do just that. However, he finished last of 6. He does not take his chance either on Saturday.

Derby horses

The final look at routes to the St Leger derives from the Derby’s. Serpentine (RPR 121), the winner of the Epsom Derby has not been seen out since. He won’t be running in the St Leger. Santiago (RPR 118) however, winner of the Irish Derby is declared; as is the second that day Tiger Moth (RPR 118).

There are two other horses coming from slightly unconventional routes that we must consider carefully. Hukum, for trainer Owen Burrows, winner of the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury. A Group 3 over 13.5F (RPR 118). Galileo Chrome a listed 13F winner at Naas (RPR 106) for Donnacha O’Brien. Both horses are lightly raced and have won their last 3 starts.

St Leger Stakes Race Trends

15 horses were declared today at the 5-day declarations stage. Let’s consider the following trends, when removing the other 10 from the shortlist.

• 16/20: Previous Winners were a minimum Group 3 Winner. (1 exception was 2016 Harbour Law)(all 3 others placed in either the Great Voltigeur or Gordon Stakes)
• 13/14: Previous Winners officially rated at least 108. (the exception was 2016 Harbour Law) * complete ratings only go back 14 years.
• 19/20: Previous Winners Sire Index no lower than 9.4.Joint Sire Index no lower than 18.4(the exception was 2016 Harbour Law)
• 20/20: Previous Winnershad at least 1 Brilliant, 8 Classic and 16 Total dosage points
• 19/20: Previous Winners between 0.41 & 1.77 Dosage Index(the exception was 2016 Harbour Law)
• 20/20: Previous Winners between -0.39 & 0.5 C.O.D. Dosage Index

St Leger Stakes Runners

Dawn Patrol, Sunchart, Mohican Heights, Mythical & Tyson Fury are all under 108 Official Ratings. They appear to have too much to find on trends and form.

Believe in Love, rated 107 is also a little short, but a very interesting runner having won a Newmarket handicap last time out by 10 lengths, (RPR 112). That was her 4th win a row, so she needs consideration. But despite that last run, she is no more than a handicap winner and is negative on breeding trends.

One time Derby favourite

English King, the one time Derby favourite has been declared today. On breeding, he looks a nice profile fit, but he has something to prove now after his flop last time out in the Gordon Stakes. Sent off 5/4F he was beaten over 3 lengths by Mogul into 4th and is somewhat unbackable on trends after that. His Lingfield Derby Trial win remains his best run to date and he is looking more and more flattered by how he looked in that as we progress through the season.

Max Vega ran well behind Hukum in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes last time out, with jockey Harry Bentley dropping the whip just over a furlong out. In truth though, Hukum was probably going to beat him anyway and was travelling much sweeter than Max Vega before going on to win by over 2 lengths. I wouldn’t completely discount Max Vega but he is also slightly negative on breeding trends as well as obviously liked to have seen him in a more recognised recent trial.

Subjectivist 7th and Berkshire Rocco 4th did take their chance in a recognised trial, the Great Voltigeur Stakes. Neither ran well enough to be considered here though. No horse has finished outside the top 3 in that and gone on to win the St Leger in the last 20 years. Subjectivist has had another run since then, winning the Group 3 March Stakes at Goodwood over 14 furlongs by an incredible 15 lengths. He looks like he stays all day, however I just can’t ignore getting beaten by 8 lengths in the Great Voltigeur. I can’t back a horse for the St Leger on those terms.

St Leger Stakes Shortlist

Pyledriver

The surprise winner of the Group 2 King Edward VII at Royal Ascot earlier this season. Many wrote him off after he could finish only 11^th in the Derby next time out. Trainer William Muir however was convinced he would have performed better had he not been badly impeded in the race. He was somewhat proven on this point when he hacked up in the Great Voltigeur Stakes last time out. That puts him in with a huge chance here. He had also a 3lb penalty to contend with at York.

He is a very unfashionable horse with very modest breeding, failing on the trends. It all depends quite whether you believe in him or not. You can’t win the Great Voltigeur and King Edward VII by luck though.

Galileo Chrome

Galileo Chrome would be a fascinating runner for trainer Donnacha O’Brien if he does turn up this weekend. Winner of his last 3 starts, the last 2 by a combined 11 lengths. He won the Listed Yeats Stakes at Navan last time out. Impossible to know what he’s beaten in those however and with a best RPR of only 107, he has a lot to find on trends. Also yet to even race at Group level. Only just makes the breeding trends and he could be a horse that stays all day without quite enough talent or speed to win a St Leger Classic.

Tiger Moth

It’s not yet clear whether Tiger Moth will take his chance on Saturday. If he does, he will be hard to work out with just 3 runs under his belt. His second in the Irish Derby is good enough form to give him the profile to win. Except for his inexperience. No horse in the last 20 runnings has won with only 3 starts under his belt. However, he was possibly even unlucky to finish second to Santiago having run quite wide on the bend. Nice breeding profile to him and would have a good chance.

Hukum

Hukum has now won 3 of his 4 starts and could be anything really. He is a beautifully bred Sea The Stars colt out of a Kingmambo dam. Winner of the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot, he was struck into during the race and had to be put away for a while before coming back to win the Geoffrey Freer. He looked impressive there and the injury could possibly be the reason he didn’t go for a more recognised St Leger trial. Still, he will be difficult to work out because of that and is a bit short in the market on what he’s achieved so far.

Santiago

When Aidan O’Brien wins the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, it’s worth putting the horse into your St Leger tracker. Already proven over the distance from a trainer who excels with these types of horses, you can be sure he will have a great chance on Saturday. If that form isn’t enough, he went to the Curragh next time out and showed a lot of pace to win the Irish Derby. Furthermore, they thought him good enough to take on Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup over 2 miles. He could only finish 3rd, but what he has achieved this season marks him down as a very exciting horse for next year when he will possibly go for all the big staying races.

We know he stays and we know he also has enough pace to win a Derby. He appears to have the perfect profile to win the St Leger. Another beautifully bred colt, out of Epsom Derby hero Authorized with a pace injection on the dam side with Cape Cross. There really isn’t much not to like.

It boils down to whether you trust a horse like Pyledriver or Hukum in a Classic or whether you go the tried and tested route with Aidan O’Brien.

Ultimately, it means looking at the prices and I can’t understand why Santiago is trading as big at 3/1. So he’s my selection. It would be a fascinating victory, as Ballydoyle number 1 rider, Ryan Moore will stay in Ireland for Irish Champions weekend. That means none other than Frankie Dettori is likely to take the ride. Frankie Dettori winning a Classic for Ballydoyle? A fitting result for this strange 2020 season I’d say.

St Leger Stakes Shortlist

When you consider the toughest tests in all of Thoroughbred horse racing, the St. Leger Stakes in Great Britain certainly has to be one of the first that pops to mind. The pure length of the race and the fact that it comes near to the end of the long racing season makes it a true challenge for the three-year-old standout horses who undertake it. But it’s understandable that they do, considering the glory that goes to the winner and the financial reward due to the winner’s connections.

In addition to being one of the longest Group 1 stakes races in the world, the St. Leger Stakes also stands among the oldest, with the first edition being contested back in 1776. Held at the historic Doncaster Racecourse in Doncaster, England, the race has become the centerpiece of an entire four-day cultural event in the location known as Town Moor. On top of all that, the St. Leger Stakes also holds the honorific position as the final leg in British horse racing’s Triple Crown.

That means that, on years when a horse has won the two legs, the entire nation turns to the St. Leger Stakes to see if it can complete the rare accomplishment of winning all three. Even if the Triple Crown isn’t up for grabs, however, the attention paid to the race is still impressive, both throughout England and the entire world. And much of that attention comes in the form of St Leger Stakes betting, whether it is being done on site or via the world of online horse racing wagering.

St. Leger Stakes History

Anthony St. Leger was well-known back in the late 1770s both for his work in the British army and for his political efforts. But it was his enthusiasm for horse racing that would eventually gain him the greatest fame. He founded the first St. Leger Stakes in 1776 in an area known as Cantley Common and put up a purse of 25 guineas to attract the participants.

That first race was two miles long and was won by a filly that came to be known as Allabaculia. Two years later, the St. Leger Stakes was held for the first time at Town Moor, which is where it has stayed ever since, save for a few interruptions. Eventually, the distance was shortened to its current length of 2,921 meters, which works out to a little over a 1 ¾ miles, or one mile and six furlongs in horse racing parlance.

The current specifications for the St. Leger Stakes allow for all three-year-old colts and fillies to be eligible. It is a Group 1 flat race (meaning no jumps), and it carries a purse of 700,000 British Pounds. A grass surface prevails at Doncaster Racecourse, and the track is round. Finally, the race is held in September of each year, so it has become symbolic of the end of summer in Great Britain.

Different Locations of the St. Leger Stakes

There have been a few occasions when the St. Leger Stakes had to be moved from its normal location. Wars were the main reason this occurred. In the years 1915 through 1918, World War I forced the race to be moved to Newmarket Racecourse, which is also the location of the first leg of the British Triple Crown, the 2,000 Guineas Stakes. During those years, it was called the September Stakes.

The outbreak of World War II caused the longest interruption to the St. Leger Stakes in terms of its being held at Doncaster. There was no event in 1939 due to the beginning of the war. For the next six years, the race hopped around to a number of different tracks.

• 1940: Thirsk
• 1941: Manchester
• 1942-1944: Newmarket
• 1945: York

In 1989, the early part of the racing meet at Doncaster indicated issues with drainage, so the St. Leger was moved that year to Ayr. And in 2006, York took over as the host of the race due to remodeling at the Doncaster track. Doncaster has played the proud host of the race in all other years.

The Role of the St. Leger Stakes in the British Triple Crown

The St. Leger Stakes is actually the oldest of the three races that would eventually be designated as the ones to comprise the British Triple Crown. The Epsom Derby came a few years after, and then the 2,000 Guineas Stakes became the last to be inaugurated in 1809. At some point, horse racing enthusiasts realized that these were three prime races for three-year-olds and dubbed the achievement of winning all three the Triple Crown.

As far as how they are scheduled on the calendar, the 2,000 Guineas comes first in either late April or early May. After that, the Epsom Derby takes place in June, with the St. Leger Stakes rounding it out in September. That means that many horses have come to the St. Leger having won the first two and needing that final race to complete the feat, which has been done just 15 times throughout history.

Perhaps the reason that the Triple Crown is such a tough thing to manage is the fact that the British races included escalate in distance. The 2,000 Guineas is just a mile long, while the Epsom Derby is about 1 ½ miles. At approximately 1 ¾ miles, the St. Leger outstrips them all.

In this day and age, many horses aren’t bred for those long distances. For that reason, a race like the St. Leger can seem like an anomaly, and many three-year-olds might shy away from it. Still, as recently as 2012, a horse (Camelot) came into the race with a shot at the Triple Crown, only to come up just short.

The St. Leger Stakes holds the odd distinction of being the closing leg of two British Triple Crown series. Both the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and the Epsom Derby have races attached to them that are contested by fillies – the 1,000 Guineas Stakes and the Epsom Oaks, respectively. By contrast, the St. Leger has no such counterpart race for females.

As a result, it also serves as the closing leg for the filly Triple Crown since fillies are allowed to race in the St. Leger and have actually had much greater success in the race than in the 2,000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby. The filly Triple Crown has been completed nine times, most recently in 1985.

Famous St. Leger Stakes Races Through History

A horse named Champion won the St. Leger and then followed it up by winning the Epsom Derby, becoming the first horse to ever win these two races in the same year.

The Flying Dutchman won in 1849, and Voltigeur won in 1850, the latter by run-off after finishing in a dead heat with Russborough. In 1851, The Flying Dutchman beat Voltigeur in one of the most famous match races in British history.

West Australian won the St. Leger Stakes after winning the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and the Epsom Derby, becoming the first horse in British racing history to achieve the Triple Crown.

The filly Formosa’s win in the St. Leger followed up her wins in the 1,000 Guineas Stakes as well as the Epsom Oaks, making her the first to complete the Filly Triple Crown.

Flying Fox completed the Triple Crown by winning the St. Leger, matching the feat that his sire, Ormonde, had accomplished in 1886.

It’s a royal affair, as Diamond Jubilee, owned by the Prince of Wales, won the St. Leger.

Sceptre completed the Filly Triple Crown by winning the St. Leger. It was the end of a campaign that saw her win four of the five British Classics for three-year-olds, the only horse ever to do so.

Pommern, Gay Crusader, and Gainsborough all completed the Triple Crown by winning the September Stakes at Newmarket, the wartime replacement for the St. Leger. Some racing historians dispute that these constitute actual Triple Crowns because of the way that the war affected racing during that time, thinning out the lists of top competitors and causing all three races to be held at the same track

Bahram retired undefeated through nine races after winning the St. Leger to complete the Triple Crown.

Hethersett, who was favored in the Epsom Derby but fell during a pileup with other horses, came back to win the St. Leger.

Nijinsky won the St. Leger and, in the process, completed the Triple Crown, the last to achieve the feat in Great Britain.

The filly Dunfermline, owned by Queen Elizabeth II, won the race in the year of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. She would win nine of ten career races.

Oh So Sharp completed the Filly Triple Crown by winning the St. Leger. No filly has accomplished this task since.

Conduit won the St. Leger Stakes. A month later, he would win the first of his two successive Breeders’ Cup Turf Classics.

Encke denied Camelot the chance of winning the Triple Crown by defeating him in the St. Leger. A year later, both Encke and his trainer were banned from racing because it was determined that the horse had been administered steroids. This caused an uproar in the St Leger Stakes betting community.

Recent St. Leger Stakes Results

Festivities Surrounding St. Leger Stakes

The St. Leger Stakes Festival, sponsored by bookmakers William Hill, is a four-day event culminated by the running of the race. Legends Day kicks it off with a race featuring many retired jockeys of great renown. Next up is Ladies Day, which features a best-dressed competition for the ladies in attendance.

Several top stakes races take place on Gentleman’s Day, which also includes many forms of entertainment for the fans to enjoy. The actual race is contested on the final day of the event, which also cultivates an extremely festive atmosphere among the large crowds.

Betting on the St. Leger Stakes Horse Race

The St. Leger Stakes is one of the most famous horse races in Great Britain. That is a country whose citizens are known to place a wager or two on horse races. But in reality, there is interest throughout the world in St Leger Stakes betting, which is why you should learn the basics so you can participate as well.

Where Can You Bet on the St. Leger Stakes?

On-site real money St Leger Stakes betting is permitted, of course, but only a small portion of those interested in the race are actually in attendance. Luckily, sites for St Leger Stakes betting online are everywhere. Choosing the right one for you depends on a number of personal preferences you might have.

Those specifications might be related to how your money is deposited and withdrawn. You also might want to seek out sites that offer incentives for horse players and the St. Leger Stakes in particular, possibly in the form of bonuses. It also might come down to your comfort level in navigating through the site in order to place your bets.

In the end, your best bet is to shop around until you feel entirely comfortable with a site. Once you do, you can make your St. Leger bets without hesitation. You can also feel free to look through our recommended St Leger Stakes betting sites for safe, reliable, and quality options for betting on the St. Leger Stakes.

What Kinds of Bets Can Be Made on the St. Leger Stakes?

If you are betting on this prestigious race, either online or elsewhere, you can break it down into two main categories: straight bets and accumulators. In simplest terms, a straight bet is one that involves just a single horse to either win or finish high up in the order of finish. Accumulators include multiple horses, sometimes over multiple races.

With a straight bet, you are generally looking at a single horse that you like and putting your money on them in some way. Accumulators pay off very well because they involve so many variables and can only be won if every part of the wager comes in correctly. You might choose your favorite bet based on the amount of money you want to spend and whether you’re looking for more of a sure bet or if you’re hoping for the big payoff.

What Strategies Work the Best for Betting the St. Leger Stakes?

Everyone with betting experience on horse races over time develops some kind of strategy for picking winners. If you are new to this experience, you should keep it simple. Look at how the horses have raced in the recent past to see if they are in fine form. You can find this information in a race program or online.

As you get more experienced real money St Leger Stakes betting, you can start to look into other factors, like the pedigree of the horses. With a race as long as the St. Leger Stakes, you need a horse who can handle the distance. The sire and dam of the horse should be ones that proved in their racing careers that they could run well in long races.

In addition, the jockey and the trainer often have a huge bearing on the outcome of a race. If you are stuck between choosing two horses, you can use the performances of the jockey or the trainer as a tie-breaker. Look for those who specifically have performed well in the St. Leger in the past.

St. Leger Stakes FAQ

What Jockey Has Won the Race the Most Times?

Bill Scott took home the St. Leger winner a record nine times in the 19th century.

St Leger Day

What Trainer Won the Race the Most Times?

John Scott won an amazing 16 St. Leger Stakes as trainer. And if the name looks familiar, it’s because he was the brother of Bill Scott, the all-time leading jockey of the race.

Who Won the ST. Leger Stakes by the Widest Margin?

Never Say Die dominated the race in 1954 to win by a dozen lengths.

Who Was the Longest Shot to Ever Win the ST. Leger?

In 1822, Theodore won the race at incredible odds of 200-1.

Who Ran the Fastest Winning Time?

Saint Leger

The fastest winning time in the history of the St. Leger Stakes belongs to Masked Marvel, who won the 2011 edition of the race in just a shade over three minutes (3:00.44).