St Leger Centenary Mug

In 1776 the St Leger was the first of the classic races to be instigated in England. Colonel Anthony St Leger lived not far from the Doncaster Racecourse at Park Hill.  It was his idea to run a race for 3 year old colts to carry 8st stone and fillies to carry 7 stone. It was to be run over 2 miles with a sweepstake of 25 guineas; Rockingham’s filly by Samson beat St Leger filly, Trusty. At this point the race did not have a name. The next year following a banquet at Wenworth the home of  the Marquis of Rockingham, who was the Prime Minister, another race was suggested to be run in 1777 which was won by Bourbon. In 1778 is was named by him after his friend, St Leger.

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That shorter course  changed the style and history of racing.  But there was a good reason. Horses had been imported in the late 17th century from Aleppo.  These horses were tall, fine and of quite a different quality to the horses that were racing in England at that time.  They were in fact Turkoman horses. The Byerely Turk was one, the Darley, known as an Arabian was also a Turk horse and the Godolphin was a Barb.  These horses were very different from the Irish Hobbies, usually raced by gentlemen, hence the word ‘Hobby’; because every gentleman had a ‘Hobby’. Courses were still run in heats and often the winner would have run 12 miles in a day. This form of heat racing was still popular, but would soon be taken over by the shorter race of 2 miles. Cross-breeding with some very unusual and quality mares like Old Bald Peg, we now have the English racehorse, known as a Thoroughbred; which is the shortened version of, a horse thoroughly bred for racing. (The description thoroughbred can be applied to any breed of animal bred for a purpose.)

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These horses had terrific stamina and more speed. They stood 16 to 17 hands high, with fine legs and a shiny almost metallic coat, and fine manes and tails.  They are descended from the ancient breed of the Turkoman and were used for raiding villages and plundering.  Their descendants exist today in the Akhalteke.

A very important postscript to this very short history of the St Leger, Laura Mongan, who trains from condover Stables in Langley Vale, won the St Leger, with Harbour Law and George Baker up, 10th September 2016 ; she is the only Epsom trainer to win this first classic race.

Purchased from Crow’s Auction Sales Dorking 21/1/25