2026 marks the 250th running of the Betfred St Leger, Doncaster Racecourse’s flagship race. Steeped in history and tradition, its story can be traced back to a meeting at the Red Lion Inn in 1776. For four days, Doncaster will take centre stage, showcasing the city and its iconic festival to audiences both at home and around the world.
In Episode 12 of Talk of the Course, Paul Swain and Matt Jones are joined by Doncaster’s Executive Director Rachel Harwood and Clerk of the Course David Atwood to delve into what makes the St Leger so special and the various upgrades that have been made to signify this.
The 250th running has highlighted the deep connection between the St Leger and the city of Doncaster. The racecourse has been responsible for a number of promotional campaigns to celebrate this milestone anniversary: from a purpose-made film to a city centre exhibition, the build-up to the 2026 Betfred St Leger has been unmistakenly and unapologetically Doncaster. This is embodied by the ‘A Reyt Good Day Out’ campaign, and Rachel gives us the lowdown on how the campaign was created, its KPIs and the definitive pronunciation of its title.
This sense of local pride has also been harboured by local MP, Sally Jameson. Sally has used her Parliamentary platform throughout the year to highlight how interconnected the racecourse is with the city and recently hosted a Parliamentary Reception to toast the St Leger’s 250th anniversary.
Plenty is happening on track, too. David discusses the introduction of Betfred St Leger Trials Day, improvements around the racecourse and the importance of continued development to the racing surface. With an international feel to this year’s Festival, the team also reveal how Doncaster has worked to widen the international appeal of the race and successfully bring World Pool to the meeting for the first time.
David explains the ground management behind each year’s St Leger and how his usual plans have had to adapt. With heatwaves and drought challenging racecourses across the country, he discusses how Doncaster has responded to the changing conditions.
#QuickFireFive returns for another scintillating instalment, as the team uncover the best way to continue the party into Doncaster post-racing and a summary of Yorkshire’s finest fish and chip eateries.
The St Leger Festival takes place from 10th–13th September and promises to be a “reyt good day out!”. Tickets are available for all four days via Doncaster’s website.
Talk of the Course is designed to shed a light on the best practice emanating from racecourse teams across the country, covering all aspects of racecourse operation. It is written, produced and hosted by the RCA’s executive team. The latest episode is available now to stream via YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts platforms.
Music licensed through Soundstripe.
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