Entrance to the Main Grandstand at Doncaster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDoncaster sits within South Yorkshire and so is essentially within a densely populated area. It is close to airports, is one the main train line and is within reach of the M1, A1(M), M62 and M18.<\/p>\n
How to Get to Doncaster<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019re driving to Doncaster, the track is very easy to find.<\/p>\n
There are links from junction 32 of the M1, junctions 3\/4 of the M18, junction 36 of the A1(M) as well as from the M62. Simply head for Doncaster and then look for the signs for the racetrack which are easy to follow.<\/p>\n
There is free car parking for all meetings other than the Leger Festival in September.<\/p>\n
As the drinks tend to flow at Donny on race days, you may want to leave the car behind and use the shuttle bus service provided.<\/p>\n
The shuttle bus runs between the Doncaster Interchange at the train station to the racecourse, only on proper race days and not for other functions.<\/p>\n
Check out the time the track opens for your meeting. The shuttle bus will generally leave the Interchange at around the time the gates open, continuing regularly until around half an hour before the first race is due off.<\/p>\n
Designated stop-offs for the return journey can be accessed, the bus running from just after the second last race until an hour after the final race. If a concert or other entertainment is provided post-racing, the shuttle bus continues until that has concluded.<\/p>\n
Doncaster has the advantage of being accessible from just about anywhere in the country via train. It sits on the east coast mainline, accepting direct arrivals from Kings Cross, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Hull and Edinburgh among many others, with connections available from all corners.<\/p>\n
Where to Stay<\/h3>\n
There are enough rooms around Doncaster itself to satisfy demand on most race days, though the town is also close enough to Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield if you fancy staying elsewhere.<\/p>\n
One thing you may notice on TV coverage of Doncaster as the horses cross the line is the on-site hotel.<\/p>\n
The hotel is ideal for people looking to stay before and\/or after race meetings, while other attractions such as Yorkshire\u2019s Wildlife Park and the Lakeside Shopping Village are also nearby. This makes the hotel ideal for racegoers coming with family members or who are just looking to make a whole weekend of it.<\/p>\n\r\n\r\n
Doncaster Racecourse Fixtures<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n| Day<\/th>\r\n | Date<\/th>\r\n | Time<\/th>\r\n | Type<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n |
\r\n\r\n\r\n| Thursday<\/td>\r\n | 2nd May 2024<\/td>\r\n | Evening<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Saturday<\/td>\r\n | 18th May 2024<\/td>\r\n | Evening<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Friday<\/td>\r\n | 31st May 2024<\/td>\r\n | Evening<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Saturday<\/td>\r\n | 1st Jun 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Sunday<\/td>\r\n | 16th Jun 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Friday<\/td>\r\n | 28th Jun 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Saturday<\/td>\r\n | 29th Jun 2024<\/td>\r\n | Evening<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Friday<\/td>\r\n | 5th Jul 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Thursday<\/td>\r\n | 11th Jul 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Saturday<\/td>\r\n | 20th Jul 2024<\/td>\r\n | Evening<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Thursday<\/td>\r\n | 25th Jul 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Saturday<\/td>\r\n | 3rd Aug 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Saturday<\/td>\r\n | 17th Aug 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Thursday<\/td>\r\n | 12th Sep 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Friday<\/td>\r\n | 13th Sep 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Saturday<\/td>\r\n | 14th Sep 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Sunday<\/td>\r\n | 15th Sep 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Friday<\/td>\r\n | 25th Oct 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Saturday<\/td>\r\n | 26th Oct 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Saturday<\/td>\r\n | 9th Nov 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Flat \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Friday<\/td>\r\n | 29th Nov 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Jump \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Saturday<\/td>\r\n | 30th Nov 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Jump \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Friday<\/td>\r\n | 13th Dec 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Jump \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Saturday<\/td>\r\n | 14th Dec 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Jump \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n |
\r\n| Sunday<\/td>\r\n | 29th Dec 2024<\/td>\r\n | Afternoon<\/td>\r\n | Jump \/ Turf<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n\nMajor Events at Doncaster<\/h2>\n![\"View](\"https:\/\/www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/view-of-race-from-ground-765px.jpg\") <\/p>\n
Doncaster hosts several important events during the year, especially on the Flat, a sphere in which Town Moor\u2019s races are particularly historic and important.<\/p>\n Many future top horses come to Doncaster to run in novice races, maidens and handicaps, but these are the races of most significance run every year, divided by code:<\/p>\n Major Jumps Races<\/h3>\n\n \n\n\n| Race<\/th>\n | Type\/Grade<\/th>\n | Distance<\/th>\n | Month<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n | \n\n| Summit Juvenile Hurdle<\/td>\n | Hurdle, 3yo Only, Grade 2<\/td>\n | 2m\u00bdf<\/td>\n | December<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| December Novices\u2019 Chase<\/td>\n | Novices\u2019 Chase, 4yo+, Grade 2<\/td>\n | 3m<\/td>\n | December<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Great Yorkshire Chase<\/td>\n | Handicap Chase, 5yo+, Listed Race<\/td>\n | 3m<\/td>\n | January<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Yorkshire Rose Mares\u2019 Hurdle<\/td>\n | Hurdle, Mares Only, 4yo+, Grade 2<\/td>\n | 2m\u00bdf<\/td>\n | January<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| River Don Novices\u2019 Hurdle<\/td>\n | Novices\u2019 Hurdle, 4yo+, Grade 2<\/td>\n | 3m\u00bdf<\/td>\n | January<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Grimthorpe Chase<\/td>\n | Handicap Chase, 5yo+, Class 2<\/td>\n | 3m2f<\/td>\n | March<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nMajor Flat Races<\/h3>\n\n \n\n\n| Race<\/th>\n | Type\/Grade<\/th>\n | Distance<\/th>\n | Month<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n | \n\n| Brocklesby Stakes<\/td>\n | 2yo Only, Conditions Stakes, Class 4<\/td>\n | 5f<\/td>\n | March<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Cammidge Trophy<\/td>\n | 3yo+, Listed Race<\/td>\n | 6f<\/td>\n | March<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Doncaster Mile<\/td>\n | 4yo+, Listed Race<\/td>\n | 1m<\/td>\n | March<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Lincoln Handicap<\/td>\n | Handicap, 4yo+, Class 2<\/td>\n | 1m<\/td>\n | March<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Flying Scotsman Stakes<\/td>\n | 2yo Only, Listed Race<\/td>\n | 7f<\/td>\n | September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Scarborough Stakes<\/td>\n | 2yo+, Listed Race<\/td>\n | 5f<\/td>\n | September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Sceptre Stakes<\/td>\n | 3yo+, Fillies & Mares, Group 3<\/td>\n | 7f<\/td>\n | September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Park Hill Stakes<\/td>\n | 3yo+, Fillies & Mares, Group 2<\/td>\n | 1m6\u00bdf<\/td>\n | September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Flying Childers Stakes<\/td>\n | 2yo Only, Group 2<\/td>\n | 5f<\/td>\n | September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Doncaster Cup<\/td>\n | 3yo+, Group 2<\/td>\n | 2m2f<\/td>\n | September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| May Hill Stakes<\/td>\n | 2yo Fillies Only, Group 2<\/td>\n | 1m<\/td>\n | September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| St Leger<\/td>\n | 3yo Only, Group 1<\/td>\n | 1m6\u00bdf<\/td>\n | September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Champagne Stakes<\/td>\n | 2yo Only, Group 2<\/td>\n | 7f<\/td>\n | September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Portland Handicap<\/td>\n | 3yo+, Handicap, Class 2<\/td>\n | 5\u00bdf<\/td>\n | September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Park Stakes<\/td>\n | 3yo+, Group 2<\/td>\n | 7f<\/td>\n | September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Futurity Trophy<\/td>\n | 2yo Only, Group 1<\/td>\n | 1m<\/td>\n | October<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| November Handicap<\/td>\n | 3yo+, Handicap, Class 2<\/td>\n | 1m4f<\/td>\n | November<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n As you can see, the majority of Doncaster\u2019s big races are during the St Leger Festival. The Leger is the oldest Classic and we have more information on that below.<\/p>\n The Brocklesby, although only a Class 4, is famous and typically provides the juveniles with their first opportunity of the season, the winner often then being aimed towards Royal Ascot and other major meetings.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nAbout Doncaster Racecourse<\/h2>\n![\"Doncaster](\"https:\/\/www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/doncaster-racecourse-history-765px.jpg\") <\/p>\n
Doncaster is one of the oldest, true horse racing venues in the country. Race meetings go back on record here to the 16th<\/sup> century and so it\u2019s no surprise that the oldest Classic began here.<\/p>\nRacing initially took place in a less orderly fashion and in fact the local authorities attempting to ban it in 1600. Admitting defeat, they eventually marked out a proper racecourse in 1614 and Doncaster hasn\u2019t looked back.<\/p>\n In 1992, Britain\u2019s first ever Sunday race meeting was held at Doncaster. Despite the fact that betting was not allowed at the Sunday showpiece, a bumper crowd of 23,000 showed up as if to show their approval at racing becoming a seven-days-a-week sport.<\/p>\n Development has been ensured by current owners ARC in recent times. \u00a334 million was invested recently to keep Doncaster where it needs to be, with a five-storey grandstand and top-class hospitality suites added, befitting of a Group 1 and Classic venue.<\/p>\n As we mentioned, Doncaster hosts the traditional start and end of the Flat turf season in Britain.<\/p>\n The St Leger<\/h3>\n![\"St](\"https:\/\/www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/st-leger-festival-doncaster-250px.jpg\") The St Leger Stakes is not only a Group 1 race, but is the oldest Classic in Britain. It is also the last of the five Classics to be run each year after the 2000 Guineas, 1000 Guineas, the Oaks and the Derby.<\/p>\n
While the fillies tend to stick to the 1000 Guineas and Oaks with the colts running in the 2000 Guineas and the Derby, the St Leger truly is for all. It\u2019s also the longest of the Classics and further than 1\u00be miles.<\/p>\n The St Leger was established back in 1776, with one famous jockey of yesteryear claiming that \u201cthe fastest horse wins the Guineas, the luckiest wins the Derby, but the best wins the St Leger\u201d.<\/p>\n Although the race fell out of fashion with some, especially with breeding in mind, recent winners have been real stars.<\/p>\n They include Hurricane Lane (Derby third, winner of the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris), Logician, Leading Light and Brian Boru.<\/p>\n The Leger is the final leg of both the fillies and colts Triple Crown. The great Nijinsky was the last colt to win all three available Classics way back in 1970, while the last filly to achieve the feat was Oh So Sharp in 1985.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/racecourse_guides\/1276"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/racecourse_guides"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/racecourse_guides"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} | | |
![\"Doncaster](\"https:\/\/www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/doncaster-racecourse-765px.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Doncaster](\"https:\/\/www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/doncaster-flat-racecourse-765px.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Doncaster](\"https:\/\/www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/doncaster-jumps-racecourse-765px.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Doncaster](\"https:\/\/www.horseracingbettingsites.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/doncaster-racecourse-entrance-765px.jpg\")