St. Leger Stakes creating a buzz even as September 2012 approaches near
St. Leger Festival Week is an exciting event held at Doncaster, Yorkshire. It is a historical social event which originated in 1776. The St. Leger Festival hosts racing events for four days of the festival, the rest of the time is filled with events hosting
art, music, opera, comedy and walks, among other things.
The Festival is an annual affair which takes place in September. The prestigious racing event start from the St Leger Opening Day, which is followed by the Ladies Day, Doncaster Cup Day and the Ladbrokes St Leger Day.
The highlight of this festival is undoubtedly the St. Leger Stakes, the world’s oldest classic horse race.
These stakes are open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. The race is over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards.
St. Leger’s Stakes are one of Britain’s five Classics, which is run at the end of the five runs each and covers a longer distance than the remaining four.
The event was started by an army officer and politician by the name of Anthony Leger. At the time, the race covered a distance of 2 miles.
The name of the event, “The St. Leger Stakes” was devised in 1777 as before that, the event was called “A Sweepstake of 25 Guineas.”
The St. Leger Stakes are the third race of the Triple Crown. It is preceded by the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, which are run over a mile at Newmarket Racecourse, at Suffolk and the Epsom Derby, at Surrey, which run over 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards.
The Triple Crown is difficult to claim as often the races are held with a short-time span. This does not give a runner enough time to recover from his previous race to recover in the next one.
Nijinsky was the last winner of the Triple Crown who acquired the win in 1970. Therefore, it can be said that this title is extremely difficult to win. Since the race originated almost 150 years ago, only 15 horses have won the English Triple Crown.
In 2011, Masked Marvel perform in an outstanding manner at Doncaster. He emerged as the victor from the Grade 1 Ladbrokes St. Leger Stakes, which took place on 10th September, 2011.
The 4-year-old son of Montjeu, out of mare Waldmark, delivered a stellar performance as he defeated Brown Panther by 3 lengths. This was a shining moment for his trainer John Gosden, and owner B. E. Nielsen.
This event is one of the most popular ones in the United Kingdom. The horse-racing enthusiasts anxiously await this sport. It brings all the glamour to with it and appeals to all factions of society, including women and children.
The race is a heated competition in which United Kingdom’s best horses, trainers, owners and jockeys get to demonstrate their hard work and capability.
The bookmakers take a significant interest in this event as they have a chance to earn big bucks as well. The spectators wait for this wait just as anxiously, some of them for the sheer love of the sport and some of them for the betting side of it.
The festival is not just any ordinary racing event but its significance comes from its history. It is deeply rooted in history and celebrated in the same manner.
The St. Leger Stakes are distant as they start in September but predictions about the contenders are already being made.
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