Today’s Doncaster Odds and Tips

Based in Yorkshire, Doncaster plays host to Flat and National Hunt racing, and you can see all the latest races, tips, odds and results here...

Doncaster Major Races

Doncaster racecourse is also known as the Town Moore course and is one of the oldest and largest racecourses in England. The course at Doncaster is a left -handed pear shaped track that is 1 mile and 7 ½ furlongs and it is used for Flat and National Hunt horse racing.

One of the most famous races ran at Doncaster is the St Leger Stakes which is part of the four-day St Leger festival which is ran in September, also part of the festival is the Doncaster Gold Cup which is the oldest horse race in the world and along with the Goodwood Cup and the Ascot Gold Cup is part of Britain’s Stayers’ Triple Crown. Another key race at the course is the Racing Post Trophy which is held annually in October.

On fast ground there is little draw stall advantage but on big fields low numbers will have a slight advantage.

The top jockey at this course is ex-champion flat jockey Ryan Moore, the top trainer here is Richard Fahey who is based at Musley Bank.

Big Races Run At Doncaster Racecourse

Doncaster’s left-handed course sees its fair share of top-flight racing each season. Offering both National Hunt and flat events, here are some of the most important contests to grace the track. 

St Leger Stakes

First run in the 18th century, the St Leger Stakes is one of the oldest races at Doncaster. The final leg of the English Triple Crown, this Group 1 flat race takes place each September and also marks the last Classic of the season. It’s one mile, six furlongs, and 115 yards in distance and is open to colts and fillies at least three years old. Eldar Eldarov was crowned champion in 2022.

Vertem Futurity Trophy

The mile-long Vertem Futurity Trophy is the final Group 1 event of the British flat racing season. Open to two-year-old colts and fillies, it serves as a trial for the following year’s Epsom Derby — six horses have gone on to win both since the race was inaugurated in 1961. Auguste Rodin is the most recent example, having won the Vertem Futurity in 2022 followed by both the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby in 2023.

Doncaster Cup

The oldest surviving race at Doncaster is the eponymous Doncaster Cup, a Group 2 flat race open for horses at least three years old. It’s run on the third day of the St Leger Festival in September over a distance of two miles, one furlong, and 197 yards. The most successful horse, Beeswing, has remained unsurpassed for nearly 200 years — she won the cup in 1837, 1840, 1841, and 1842. Coltrane was first across the line in 2022, ridden by Welsh jockey David Probert. 

November Handicap

Established in 1876, the November Handicap is another horse race that’s stood the test of time — although it wasn’t until 1964 that it moved to Doncaster from its previous home at New Barns, Manchester. One mile, three furlongs, and 197 yards in distance, the November Handicap is run on the final day of the British turf flat racing season. Metier took the 2022 win. 

Sky Bet Chase

Also known as the Great Yorkshire Chase but renamed on account of its sponsor, the Sky Bet Chase is a three-mile handicap race open to horses aged five or older. It’s run each January and is a highlight of the National Hunt season. Ziga Boy is the only horse to have won it more than once, landing back-to-back successes in 2016 and 2017. Most recently, Cooper’s Cross ran to victory in 2023.

Grimthorpe Handicap Chase

The longest race at Doncaster, the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase clocks in at around three miles and two furlongs. There are 19 fences to be jumped in this National Hunt handicap steeplechase. Run in late February or early March, its testing nature means it’s considered something of a trial for the Grand National the following month. Moroder won the 2023 Grimthorpe, later going on to finish second at the Gold Cup Handicap at Epsom. 

History Of Doncaster Racecourse

Doncaster Racecourse boasts a rich history in British horse racing dating all the way back to the 16th century at Town Moor. The course’s oldest surviving race, the Doncaster Cup, was established in 1766 and is an important fixture in the calendar as part of the Stayers' Triple Crown. The Doncaster Cup was followed ten years later by the inaugural St Leger Stakes in 1776, which stands as the fifth and final Classic of the racing season. 

As the 19th century rolled in, Doncaster's popularity grew, featuring legendary horses like Flying Dutchman and St Gatien. The 20th century saw further development, with the construction of the Edwardian grandstand in 1914. Doncaster Racecourse was used for military purposes during World War I, with the St Leger Stakes temporarily moved to Newmarket.

More recently in 2007, Doncaster Racecourse saw a £34 million redevelopment including a new five-story grandstand. With its prestigious meetings and storied history, it’s easy to see why Doncaster remains a pillar of British racing.

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