When is the 2026 St Leger?
The 2026 St Leger Stakes, the final Classic of Britain's flat racing season, will be run at Doncaster on September 12th. This historic race is reserved for three-year-old colts and fillies and is known for its challenging distance. Entry often features horses from notable races like the Derby and Oaks. The event will be broadcast on ITV, RacingTV, and available for live streaming via platforms such as bet365. The St Leger has a storied legacy, with AIidan O'Brien training the 2025 winner, Scandinavia.
- We bring you the dates and vital information about the 2026 St Leger
- This Classic will be run at Doncaster on Saturday 12th September 2026
When is the 2026 St Leger?
The 2026 St Leger will be run at Doncaster racecourse on Saturday 12th September 2026.
What is the St Leger?
The St Leger Stakes is the fifth and final Classic of the British flat racing season, bringing the curtain down on the year’s most prestigious three-year-old contests.
The race is staged at Doncaster Racecourse each September and is open exclusively to three-year-old colts and fillies. Its demanding distance of 14 and a half furlongs (just over 1 mile and 6 furlongs) makes it the longest of the Classics, providing a true test of stamina as well as class.
Who won the St Leger?
Aidan O'Brien saddled his third successive St Leger winner in 2025, as Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia held off Rahiebb to claim victory.
Which horses will run in the 2026 St Leger?
As the St Leger is restricted to the Classic generation, the field often features horses that previously contested major races such as the Epsom Derby and the Epsom Oaks earlier in the season. These proven middle-distance performers frequently step up in trip to tackle Doncaster’s stamina test.
In addition to the Derby and Oaks, several key trial races act as important pointers for the St Leger, including the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, and the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, all of which have produced notable winners of the Classic over the years.
Where is the St Leger run?
The St Leger is run at Doncaster racecourse, situated in Yorkshire, England.
Where can I watch the St Leger?
The St Leger will be shown on channels like ITV and RacingTV, but the easiest way would be to stream the race live. If you plan on watching the racing via your mobile or tablet, then bookmakers such as bet365 will allow you to stream the race live.
St Leger Live Streaming
The bet365 live streaming service covers a wide range of horse racing on a daily basis. Here's how to stream the 2026 St Leger live online:
- Visit bet365 > live streaming > horse racing
- Log-in or register for an account (use the bet365 bonus code NEWBONUS if opening a new account)
- Registered depositing users can then watch and bet on live horse racing.
To watch a bet365 live stream users must be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. 18+, geo-restrictions & terms and conditions apply.
Open Account Offer: Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way.
St Leger History
Of the five Classic races staged in Britain, the St Leger is the oldest. First run back in 1776, four years before the Epsom Derby, the St Leger boasts a long and storied history, along with a glittering roll of hnour.
When Anthony St Leger first devised the race, it was run over a two-mile trip at Doncaster and named "A Sweepstake Of 25 Guineas". The following season, the race was renamed the "St Leger" and, in 1813, the length of the contest was reduced to its current distance of 1m 6½f.
The most famous early winner of the St Leger was Champion, who became the first horse to win the Epsom Derby and the St Leger in the same season in 1800.
In 1853, West Australian became the first horse to complete the fabled Triple Crown, winning the 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and the St Leger in a calendar year.
In 1906, it was decided that geldings would not be allowed to run in the St Leger. During the first World War, the St Leger was staged at Newmarket. The race was held at multiple venues during World War II, including Newmarket, York, Manchester and Thirsk.
Since then, there have only been two years when the St Leger hasn't been run at Doncaster. Michelozzo won this Classic at Ayr in 1989. When Town Moor was closed for redevelopment in 2006, the St Leger was moved to York, where Simple Verse came out on top.
Since West Australian's triumph in 1853, 14 colts have completed the Triple Crown at Doncaster. Other famous Triple Crown winners include Ormonde, Gary Crusader, Gainsborough and Nijinsky, who was the last colt to win the Triple Crown in 1970.
Nine fillies have completed their version of the Triple Crown with victory in the St Leger. The most recent of those being the great Oh So Sharp, who reigned supreme at Doncaster in 1985.
Legendary trainer, John Scott is by far the most successful handler in St Leger history, having saddled the winner 16 times between 1827 and 1862.
John's brother, Bill Scott is the most successful jockey, having ridden the winner of the St Leger nine times, with six of those wins coming aboard one of his brother's horses.
In 1822, 200/1 outsider Theodore claimed a shock victory in the St Leger, and remains the longest-priced winner of a Group One race in British racing history.
Great names like Donovan, Sceptre and Pretty Polly won the St Leger around the turn of the 20th century.
Frankie Dettori won the first of his six St Leger's aboard Classic Cliche in 1995, and repeated the trick with Shantou 12 months later.
Milan, Scorpion and Lucarno all won the St Leger in the 21st century, and have gone on to have highly-successful careers as National Hunt sires.
Camelot attempted to complete the Triple Crown at Doncaster in 2012, but Aidan O'Brien's 2/5 favourite was defeated by 25/1 shot Encke, ridden by Mickael Barzalona.
Harbour Law handed small-time trainer Laura Mongan a surprise win in 2016, defeating odds-on favourite Idaho, who unseated his rider three furlongs from home.
Aidan O'Brien saddled his sixth and seventh St Leger winners in 2017 and '18, with Capri and Kew Gardens coming out on top.
In 2019, Frankie Dettori ended his 11-year wait for another St Leger winner, cruising to victory aboard John Gosden's Logician in impressive fashion.
Having ridden the St Leger winner for his father in 2011, Joseph O'Brien celebrated victory as a trainer in 2020, as Galileo Chrome win the 2020 St Leger.
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