Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster bookends the British flat season — opening with the Lincoln Handicap in late March and closing with the St Leger Festival in September and the Vertem Futurity Trophy in October.
LEFT-HANDED
EST. 1614
About Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster bookends the British flat season — opening with the Lincoln Handicap in late March and closing with the St Leger Festival in September and the Vertem Futurity Trophy in October. Doncaster Racecourse is a dual-purpose racecourse hosting both flat and National Hunt fixtures, located at Leger Way, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 6BB.
St Leger Festival, September
Doncaster’s most prestigious meeting and the conclusion of the British Classic season. The St Leger Stakes, run on the Saturday over 1 mile 6 furlongs and 115 yards, is the oldest of the five British classics and the final classic of the season.
Meetings & feature races
Doncaster Racecourse on Town Moor is one of the oldest and most historic flat tracks in Britain, with the first recorded meeting dating to 1614. The left-handed pear-shaped course has a long, sweeping home straight that rewards stamina and finishing speed.
The Lincoln Meeting (late March)
The traditional opener of the British flat turf season, with the Lincoln Handicap the meeting’s headline race. Run over a mile and open to horses aged four years and older, the Lincoln derives its name from its original home at Lincoln racecourse, which closed in 1964. The race switched permanently to Doncaster in 1965, with two temporary moves to Redcar (2006) and Newcastle (2007) during the Town Moor redevelopment.
The St Leger Stakes (mid-September)
First run in 1776, predating both the Derby and the Oaks. The St Leger is the ultimate test of stamina for three-year-olds and the natural target for any horse that finished close behind the Derby winner without quite getting the trip. Camelot (2012), Conduit (2008), Authorized (2007) and Sea The Stars (2009) all bypassed or attempted the Triple Crown via the St Leger.
The Vertem Futurity Trophy (late October)
The final Group 1 of the British flat season and the year’s definitive juvenile championship. Three of the last four winners have won the 2000 Guineas six months later; five winners have gone on to Derby success. Camelot won the Futurity Trophy in 2011 before claiming the Epsom showpiece in 2012.
Live races at Doncaster
Upcoming races at Doncaster
Live racecards from Doncaster — pulled from our racing data feed, refreshed throughout the day.
No Doncaster meetings scheduled in the next 14 days.
Check the UK Racing Predictor for races at other tracks today, or visit Doncaster Racing Data for past meetings and statistics.
Lincoln Handicap — key trends
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Course statistics & betting angles
Doncaster’s home straight is nearly half a mile long. Favours patient rides; punishes any horse forced into the lead too early.
In big-field handicaps like the Lincoln and the Portland, high draws are generally favoured. The trend has been consistent for years.
Spring ground often soft. St Leger Festival typically good. The Futurity Trophy in October frequently produces softer conditions.
The combination of the long straight and often-testing ground means genuine stayers do well at Doncaster across both codes.
How to watch racing at Doncaster
ITV provides live terrestrial coverage of the Lincoln, the St Leger and the Vertem Futurity Trophy. Sky Sports Racing covers every Doncaster card. For race-by-race tips and probability-led picks, the horse.bet UK Racing Predictor publishes daily picks and value plays for every Doncaster fixture.
Visiting Doncaster
Doncaster Racecourse is about a mile from Doncaster town centre and 15 minutes’ walk from Doncaster railway station. Doncaster is on the East Coast Main Line with regular direct services from London Kings Cross (90 minutes), Leeds and York. The M18 (Junction 4) is the closest motorway exit. The course is family-friendly across most of its meetings.
Official Doncaster Racecourse website →
Frequently asked questions
When is the Lincoln Handicap?
The Lincoln Handicap is the traditional opener of the British flat turf season, run on the Saturday of Doncaster’s Lincoln Meeting in late March or early April.
When is the St Leger?
The St Leger is run on the Saturday of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival in mid-September. The full festival runs over four days from Wednesday to Saturday.
What is the Vertem Futurity Trophy?
The Vertem Futurity Trophy is the final Group 1 of the British flat season, run over a mile in late October. It is the championship contest for two-year-olds and routinely produces classic winners the following year.
Does Doncaster host jump racing?
Yes. Doncaster operates both flat and National Hunt fixtures across the year, although the major meetings are all on the flat.
Where can I find Lincoln tips?
The horse.bet UK Racing Predictor publishes Lincoln Day picks the morning of racing, with full-field probability ratings and value plays.
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