Doncaster welcomed a crowd of 23,339 for the 2024 edition of St Leger Day, up 11% on the previous year. As well as many regular faces, the longstanding racecourse welcomed the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who enjoyed the day out with his family.
Speaking about the occasion, Starmer said “There aren’t many better days out than the races in the sunshine, so it’s a pleasure to be back in Doncaster for the historic St Leger this year. My wife has a close connection with the racecourse so the thrill of the St Leger is no stranger to us.” He was not exaggerating his wife’s connection to the course either. Lady Starmer herself told the Racing Post that her “gran used to live on Doncaster racecourse” and she “walked the neighbour’s dog there as a little child”.
So, while it was a familiar sight for Lady Starmer, seeing the incumbent Prime Minister at Doncaster Racecourse for the St Leger certainly isn’t the norm. This was the first time since Sir Winston Churchill saw Premonition win in 1953 that a serving PM has been in attendance for the final of the British Classics. Whether it becomes a regular feature remains to be seen but no doubt Doncaster will be hoping it does.
A Needed Lift For Doncaster Racecourse
In the build-up to the St Leger, there was much talk about who was not going to be there, rather than who was. Aidan O’Brien had opted to head to Leopardstown, despite saddling three of the St Leger’s field, and he took favoured jockey, Ryan Moore, with him. Moore was not the only top jockey skipping the meeting either as James Doyle, Tom Marquand and Jim Crowley headed to Leopardstown. Also absent were three-time St Leger winner William Buick and three-time flat racing Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy, both of whom were racing in Canada.
Losing so many big names did harm the appeal of the day so Doncaster needed something to add a bit of hype to the day. Lady Starmer was always a possible attendee but it was assumed she would attend alone (if at all) given her husband spent the day before at the White House and had engagements in Italy the day after. Despite this, news broke that Starmer was on the train and heading north to Doncaster. It may look quite the way from London but the journey can take as little as 1hr 39minute, making it a suitable destination for a day trip.
This is not to say the entire crowd at Doncaster were delighted by the Prime Minister’s presence mind you. On his way to the grandstand he was heckled by a small number of attendees who chanted “w***er” in his direction, among some other insults. Charming! Nevertheless, no politician is ever going to get a completely warm reception but this does not mean it was still not a big moment for Doncaster Racecourse. It helped generate a lot of headlines and put them firmly in the media spotlight.
What Did Starmer See?
St Leger Day at Doncaster featured seven races including three Group quality contests. The day’s showpiece event, the St Leger itself, was the one that most of the attendees were particularly keen to witness though. Seven horses competed in the British Classic and the betting was tight with Jan Brueghel the 11/4 joint favourite alongside Illinois, with Grosvenor Square only just behind at 7/2. Into the final furlong and the race was a toss-up between the two tied favourites who both dug in to keep pace with the other. Jan Brueghel managed to find just that little bit extra, however, enabling him to pip his stablemate by a neck.
What Does This Mean For The Racing Industry?
We know that Lady Starmer is a genuine racing fan and this is far from the first race meeting she has attended. Last October she was spotted at the British Champions Day, wandering around the Parade Ring and placing a few bets. It is hard to say if her fondness for racing will have any impact on the Prime Minister’s stance, however.
The fact that the Prime Minister chose to spend an afternoon at the races is a relatively positive sign for the industry. It is fairly unusual for PMs to attend a racing day out just for their own pleasure. Additionally, Starmer has spoken positively about the industry in the past, stating “It supports thousands of jobs and makes a significant contribution to our economy”. Racing does not appear high on the new government’s agenda but there is little indication to think they are in for a particularly tough time under Starmer’s rule.