THE CLASSIC RACES. 105 



first run for in 1776, should be named the "St. 

 Leger," in compHment to Lieutenant-General 

 Anthony St. Leger, of Park Hill, and the pro- 

 position was unanimously adopted. After a time, 

 the Doncaster race became as famous as the 

 Derby, and its celebration during the last sixty 

 years has, in some degree, become an event of 

 national significance. 



The names and performances of the winning 

 horses and successful jockeys of the St. Leger 

 have been sedulously chronicled for many years 

 past, and it may be said that, for good horses and 

 exciting incidents, as well as for the value of the 

 stakes and the betting that takes place upon 

 it, the great Doncaster race is not behind 

 the Derby, which is indebted for much of its 

 success to the fact of its taking place within 

 twenty miles of the populous city of London. 

 Doncaster, where the race for the St. Leger is 

 run, is not so easy of access to large numbers of 

 spectators as the far-famed downs of Epsom ; 

 still, on the eventful day, the Town Moor becomes 

 crowded by thousands, chiefly enthusiastic York- 

 shiremen, eager to witness the grand spectacle. 



The St. Leger, then, originated as a sweep- 

 stake of 25 gs. each for three -year -old horses. 

 The days of running have been changed two 

 or three times. The race was originally run 

 on a Tuesday, then Wednesday became for a 

 couple of years the St. Leger day, when it again 

 became Tuesday, and continued to be celebrated 

 on that day for twenty-five years afterwards, after 

 which it was run for a time on Monday, then 

 changed again to Tuesday. Since the year 1845, 

 however, the St. Leger day has been Wednesday. 



