A major new exhibition celebrating the 250th anniversary of the St Leger Stakes, the world's oldest Classic horse race, will open at Danum Gallery, Library and Museum (DGLAM) on 8th August as part of a city-wide project honouring Doncaster's most famous sporting and cultural tradition.
The Great St Leger: 250 Years of a Racing Classic has been developed by Heritage Doncaster in partnership with City of Doncaster Archives and Doncaster Racecourse.
The exhibition combines historic objects, archive material, photography, artwork and personal memories to tell the story of the St Leger from its beginnings in 1776 through to the present day, exploring its impact on the town, its people and the wider racing world.
Honouring 250 Years of Racing History
The St Leger Stakes, founded in 1776 by Anthony St Leger, transformed Doncaster into a powerhouse of British racing. Its innovative format, a single, decisive race for younger horses, helped redefine the sport and cemented Doncaster's place in racing history.
However, Doncaster's equine story stretches far beyond the race itself. From Roman cavalry exercises on the local landscape to medieval horse trading along the Great North Road, and from aristocratic patrons to the arrival of special race trains in the nineteenth century, horse culture has shaped the town's identity for centuries.
Today, the St Leger Festival remains one of the region's most significant social, cultural and economic events, attracting visitors from across the country.
Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the St Leger 250 project brings together heritage, creativity and community participation to explore the enduring legacy of a race that has shaped Doncaster for generations.
Bringing the Story to Life
A centrepiece of the exhibition is a specially commissioned digital installation by acclaimed artist and storyteller Wayne Sables, created in collaboration with the WE Great Ladies, and featuring students from Doncaster College and pupils from Doncaster School for Deaf Children.
Combining digital media, storytelling and community memories, the installation brings together historical narratives and personal experiences, capturing what the St Leger means to people today and ensuring local voices sit alongside the historical record.
The exhibition is part of a wider programme of St Leger 250 celebrations across the city. Throughout the summer, visitors will be able to take part in a range of hands-on family activities inspired by the history and heritage of the race.
In August, the anniversary will feature as part of Right Up Our Street's Into the Park programme, taking creative St Leger-themed activities into communities across Doncaster.
During St Leger Festival week, artist Andy Welland will unveil a large-scale co-created land art installation at Doncaster Racecourse, Andy has collaborated with textile artist, Karen Hall alongside schools, a care home and specialist college in the creation of racing sashes, large scale festival flags and the land art - all taking inspiration from resources in the City of Doncaster Archives.
Rare Historic Ledger Saved for Doncaster
As part of the project, Heritage Doncaster has successfully secured the purchase of a remarkable 200-page Doncaster Racecourse ledger dating from 1891 to 1898.
The volume contains lists of prominent high society figures admitted as members of the racecourse, including the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Adolphus of Teck, the Earl of Harewood and many other notable racing personalities of the era. The ledger records annual subscriptions and membership details, providing a fascinating insight into the social history of racing during the late Victorian period.
This unique document will become part of the permanent City of Doncaster Archives collection, safeguarding it for future generations.
Councillor David Nevett, Cabinet Member for Adults, Wellbeing and Culture, said: "The St Leger is woven into the fabric of Doncaster's history and identity, and this 250th anniversary provides a unique opportunity to celebrate that remarkable legacy. Through this exhibition and the wider programme of activities, we are bringing together heritage, creativity and community participation so that people of all ages can discover and share their own connections to this world-famous race. We are grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and all our partners for helping make these celebrations possible."
Rachel Harwood, Chief Executive of Doncaster Racecourse, said: "The St Leger has been at the heart of Doncaster for 250 years and remains one of the most prestigious events in the British sporting calendar. We are proud to be part of this partnership project, which not only celebrates the race's extraordinary history but also captures the stories, memories and experiences of the people who have made it such an important part of our city's heritage. This anniversary is a moment for everyone in Doncaster to be involved in."
Exhibition Information
The Great St Leger: 250 Years of a Racing Classic
Venue: Danum Gallery, Library and Museum (DGLAM)
Admission: Free
Dates: 8 August 2026 – 7 November 2026For more information visit https://www.heritagedoncaster.org.uk/projects/st-leger-250/
Notes to Editors
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.
Over the next ten years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
We help protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.
We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
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