St Leger Festival 2026: Full Day by Day Schedule, Race Times, Prize Money and 250th Anniversary
The St Leger Festival returns to Doncaster Racecourse in September 2026 for a landmark 250th anniversary celebration.
The four-day meeting runs from Thursday, September 10 through Sunday, September 13 at Town Moor in South Yorkshire. The festival brings together some of the biggest races of the British Flat racing season, with the Group 1 St Leger Stakes taking centre stage on Saturday.
The St Leger is the oldest of Britain's five Classic races and the final leg of the historic British Triple Crown. The 2026 renewal will celebrate 250 years since the race was first staged in 1776.
Across four days, the festival will feature close to 30 races and more than £1.5 million in total prize money.
When Is the St Leger Festival 2026?
The 2026 St Leger Festival takes place from Thursday, September 10 to Sunday, September 13.
Each day has its own theme and racing schedule:
Thursday, September 10: Ladies Day
Friday, September 11: Gents Day and Doncaster Cup Day
Saturday, September 12: St Leger Day
Sunday, September 13: Sunday Funday and Community Funday
The main event, the St Leger Stakes, is scheduled for 3:40pm on Saturday, September 12.
St Leger Festival 2026 Daily Race Times
Thursday and Friday: First race at 1:15pm, last race at 5:20pm
Saturday: First race at 1:10pm, last race at 5:23pm
Sunday: First race at 1:25pm, last race at 4:50pm
All times are local.
How to watch St Leger Festival 2026?
ITV1 / STV: Broadcasts the main feature races live daily from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
ITVX: Streams the full ITV1 broadcast live online and on mobile devices for free.
ITV4: Airs The Opening Show preview on Saturday morning from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
Sky Sports Racing: Showcases every single race live on Sky Channel 415 and Virgin Media Channel 512.
At The Races: Offers live digital streaming of the full race card for network subscribers.
Racing TV: Provides comprehensive race coverage for viewers located in Ireland.
St Leger Festival 2026: Full Day by Day Schedule, Dates, Race Times
Thursday, September 10: Ladies Day
Ladies Day opens the 2026 St Leger Festival with a strong combination of racing and fashion.
The day features Style Awards and two Group 2 contests for fillies. It is also the second-most valuable day of the festival behind Saturday's St Leger Day.
Thursday's Key Races
'Carrie Red' EBF Fillies' Nursery Handicap, £55,000, 6½f
Weatherbys Scientific 2-Y-O Stakes, £300,000, 6½f
Group 2 May Hill Stakes, £120,000, 1 mile
Group 2 Park Hill Fillies' Stakes, £150,000, 1 mile 6½ furlongs
Friday, September 11: Doncaster Cup Day
Friday is headlined by the Howard Wright Doncaster Cup.
The Doncaster Cup was first run in 1766 and is recognised as the oldest race still contested under official rules.
The day also features the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes, a major five-furlong contest for two-year-olds.
Friday's Key Races
Mallard Handicap, £70,000, 1 mile 6 furlongs
Flying Scotsman Stakes, Listed, £65,000, 7 furlongs
Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes, £130,000, 5 furlongs
Group 2 Howard Wright Doncaster Cup, £150,000, 2 miles 2 furlongs
Saturday, September 12: St Leger Day
Saturday is the biggest day of the festival and features the 250th running of the St Leger Stakes.
The £700,000 Group 1 Classic headlines a card that also includes two Group 2 races and the Portland Handicap.
The St Leger Stakes is scheduled for 3:40pm.
Saturday's Key Races
Group 2 Champagne Stakes, £150,000, 7 furlongs
Portland Handicap, £100,000, 5½ furlongs
Group 2 Park Stakes, £140,000, 7 furlongs
Group 1 St Leger Stakes, £700,000, 1 mile 6½ furlongs, 3:40pm
Aidan O'Brien's Scandinavia won the previous renewal, ridden by Tom Marquand. The victory gave O'Brien a third consecutive St Leger success.
2026 St Leger Stakes Ante-Post Odds
The current ante-post market lists the following leading contenders:
Christmas Day, 7/4
Pierre Bonnard, 11/4
Enceladus, 11/4
Del Maro, 8/1
Highwayman, 14/1
Hatteen, 16/1
Others, 33/1 and upwards
Ante-post odds can change as the race approaches, particularly after major trials, declarations and other key races.
Sunday, September 13: Community Funday
Sunday brings the festival to a close with a more family-focused atmosphere.
Community Funday includes free or discounted family admission, the Leger Legends charity race featuring former jockeys and the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes.
Sunday's Key Races
City of Doncaster Handicap, £65,000, 7 furlongs
Leger Legends Classified Stakes, £22,000, 1 mile
Group 3 Sceptre Fillies' Stakes, £85,000, 7 furlongs
St Leger Festival 2026 Prize Money
Prize Money Payout Breakdown – St Leger Festival 2026While the total prize pool across the four-day St Leger Festival exceeds £1.5 million, the exact payout tiers for the historic £700,000 St Leger Stakes on Saturday are as follows:
1st Place: £396,970
2nd Place: £150,500
3rd Place: £75,320
4th Place: £37,520
5th Place: £18,830
6th Place: £9,450
Supporting races throughout the festival also carry significant purses. Major contests such as the Betfred Champagne Stakes and key heritage handicaps offer individual prize funds ranging from £30,000 up to £100,000+.
What Makes the St Leger Festival Important?
The St Leger Festival brings together different aspects of British Flat racing across four days.
The meeting features major two-year-old races, Group contests, long-distance staying races, handicaps and the season's final British Classic.
The 2026 edition will carry additional importance because it celebrates 250 years of the St Leger Stakes.
With its long history and major races, the Doncaster meeting remains one of the key fixtures on the British racing calendar.
St Leger Festival 2026 FAQs
When is the St Leger Festival 2026?
The festival runs from Thursday, September 10 to Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Doncaster Racecourse.
When is the 2026 St Leger Stakes?
The St Leger Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, at 3:40pm.
Why is the 2026 St Leger significant?
The 2026 St Leger marks the 250th anniversary of the race, which was first run in 1776.
How many days is the St Leger Festival?
The festival lasts four days, beginning with Ladies Day on Thursday and ending with Community Funday on Sunday.
How much prize money is available?
Close to 30 races will offer more than £1.5 million in total prize money across the festival, with the St Leger Stakes worth £700,000.
Who won the previous St Leger?
Scandinavia won the previous St Leger, giving trainer Aidan O'Brien his third consecutive victory in the race.
_______
0 Comments