The St Leger is the oldest of the Classics and the only one that stands alone in not having a fillies-only version. It was inaugurated way back in 1776, making it one of the oldest races in the world that still takes place today. Officially known as the St Leger Stakes, it is known to the Doncaster locals and indeed many racing fabs simply as “the Leger”. It is the last of the five Classic races to take place each year, being held in September. It is also the longest at one mile, six furlongs and five yards (and was initially held over two miles), this distance meaning it is now viewed as rather a specialist showdown, rarely taken on by horses who have contested the other Classics.
It may lack the prestige of the other four races but there is well over £400,000 offered to the winner of the Group One. Like those four races, it is only open to three year olds (colts and fillies both, but not geldings) and has been won by mighty horses such as Champion, West Australian and Logician.
2025 - Scandinavia
Scandinavia gave Aidan O'Brien a third consecutive St Leger winner after prevailing by a neck in a thrilling finish at Doncaster. Tom Marquand, called up late to ride after Ballydoyle's two top jockeys became unavailable, always kept the favourite in contention before holding off the fast-finishing Rahiebb in the closing strides. Stablemate Stay True completed the places, while Derby winner Lambourn faded into fourth. The victory made O'Brien the first trainer in the modern era to win three successive renewals of the world's oldest Classic.
- 1st - Scandinavia 2/1F, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Rahiebb 14/1, Jockey: Ray Dawson, Trainer: Roger Varian
- 3rd - Stay True 11/2, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2024 - Jan Brueghel
An all-Ballydoyle duel unfolded in the closing stages of this encounter as Jan Brueghel edged stablemate Illinois by a neck to maintain his unbeaten record. After Grosvenor Square led the field into the straight, the two market leaders took control approaching the final two furlongs and quickly established themselves as the horses to beat. Sean Levey's mount found slightly more in the closing strides to extend his perfect record to four wins from four starts. Deira Mile, who initially claimed third place, was demoted to fourth for a significant bump on Sunway.
- 1st - Jan Brueghel 11/4J, Jockey: Sean Levey, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Illinois 11/4J, Jockey: Wayne Lordan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Sunway 11/2, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon, Trainer: David Menusier
2023 - Continuous
Continuous produced an authoritative display to hand Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien victory in this race once again. Travelling strongly throughout, the colt moved into the lead two furlongs from home before quickening clear of the field. Frankie Dettori's mount Arrest stayed on for second, while Desert Hero finished a very credible third for King Charles III and Queen Camilla, just ahead of Tower of London. Despite the mini-battle occurring behind Continuous, the second favourite was never seriously threatened once in front, staying on powerfully to score by just under three lengths.
- 1st - Continuous 3/1, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Arrest 11/4F, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 3rd - Desert Hero 6/1, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: William Haggas
2022 - Eldar Eldarov
David Egan enjoyed a winning first ride in the race as Eldar Eldarov prevailed in a dramatic finish. The jockey patiently settled off the pace for much of the contest before his mount produced a strong late run to edge out Haskoy. This was not the official finishing order, though, as the runner-up was later demoted to fourth following a stewards' inquiry. The race took place a day later than scheduled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Egan dedicated the victory to Jack de Bromhead, son of Henry, who tragically passed away a week earlier.
- 1st - Eldar Eldarov 9/2, Jockey: David Egan, Trainer: Roger Varian
- 2nd - New London 11/8F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 3rd - Giavellotto 28/1, Jockey: Neil Callan, Trainer: Marco Botti
2021 - Hurricane Lane
Hurricane Lane capped an outstanding campaign with an impressive victory, adding Britain's oldest Classic to his Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris successes. William Buick kept the odds-on favourite relaxed in the early stages before asking him to challenge approaching the final furlong. Once in front, Charlie Appleby's colt quickly asserted his superiority, pulling two and three-quarter lengths clear of Mojo Star, who had finished comfortably ahead of Hurricane Lane when they met in the Derby.
- 1st - Hurricane Lane 8/11F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 2nd - Mojo Star 8/1, Jockey: Rossa Ryan, Trainer: Richard Hannon
- 3rd - The Mediterranean 28/1, Jockey: Wayne Lordan, Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
2020 - Galileo Chrome
Joseph O'Brien became only the second person to win the St Leger as both a jockey and trainer after Galileo Chrome's determined success at Doncaster. Tom Marquand, meanwhile, claimed his first Classic victory after being called up at short notice when the originally booked rider Shane Crosse tested positive for Covid-19. Despite the late opportunity, Marquand produced a confident ride to guide the colt through the field before narrowly holding off Berkshire Rocco's late challenge.
- 1st - Galileo Chrome 4/1, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
- 2nd - Berkshire Rocco 16/1, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni, Trainer: Andrew Balding
- 3rd - Pyledriver 9/2, Jockey: Martin Dwyer, Trainer: William Muir
2019 - Logician
Logician extended his unbeaten record with a commanding victory in 2019, confirming himself as one of the season's leading stayers. Frankie Dettori settled the favourite towards the rear before launching a decisive challenge in the home straight. Once asked to quicken, Logician swiftly asserted and pulled clear to defeat Sir Ron Priestley, with Nayef Road taking third. Although the winning time did not quite break the three-minute barrier, the time of 3:00.27 was a new St Leger record at Doncaster.
- 1st - Logician 5/6F, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd - Sir Ron Priestley 7/1, Jockey: Franny Norton, Trainer: Mark Johnston
- 3rd - Nayef Road (IRE) 40/1, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni, Trainer: Mark Johnston
2018 - Kew Gardens
Favourite Lah Ti Dar finished strongly but could not reel in Kew Gardens, who secured the race for Aidan O'Brien after taking control approaching the final two furlongs. Ryan Moore initially placed the eventual winner in midfield before asking him to quicken at just the right moment, opening a decisive advantage in the straight. Although Lah Ti Dar closed late under Frankie Dettori, Kew Gardens remained comfortably in front to claim his second Group 1 victory of the season.
- 1st - Kew Gardens 3/1, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: A P O'Brien
- 2nd - Lah Ti Dar 7/4F, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 3rd - Southern France 20/1, Jockey: Seamie Heffernan, Trainer: A P O'Brien
2017 - Capri
Capri came out on top in one of the most competitive renewals for years, holding off Crystal Ocean by half a length after a stirring battle in the closing stages. Aidan O'Brien's quartet controlled much of the race through a strong early gallop before Capri emerged as the principal challenger entering the straight. Crystal Ocean closed relentlessly inside the final furlong, but the winner found enough to repel the late charge, with future staying star Stradivarius only a short head further back in third.
- 1st - Capri 3/1F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: A P O'Brien
- 2nd - Crystal Ocean 5/1, Jockey: Jim Crowley, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
- 3rd - Stradivarius 9/2, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: John Gosden
2016 - Harbour Law
The complexion of this race changed dramatically when odds-on favourite Idaho stumbled and unseated his rider turning for home, leaving the race wide open. Harbour Law took full advantage of this false step, staying on strongly inside the final furlong to deny fellow outsider Ventura Storm and third-favourite Housesofparliament. The 22/1 success handed Laura Mongan a landmark first Group 1 victory, making her the first female trainer to win the world's oldest Classic. Both Idaho and jockey Seamie Heffernan were fine following the incident.
- 1st - Harbour Law 22/1, Jockey: George Baker, Trainer: Mrs L J Mongan
- 2nd - Ventura Storm 14/1, Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa, Trainer: Richard Hannon
- 3rd - Housesofparliament 7/1, Jockey: Colm O'Donoghue, Trainer: Aidan P. O'Brien
2015
- 1st - Simple Verse (IRE) 8/1, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni, Trainer: Ralph Beckett
- 2nd - Bondi Beach (IRE) 2/1J, Jockey: Colm O'Donoghue, Trainer: Aidan P. O'Brien
2014
- 1st - Kingston Hill 9/4F, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni, Trainer: Roger Varian
- 2nd - Romsdal 13/2, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: John Gosden
- 3rd - Snow Sky 11/2, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute