VRC St Leger explained

Surface:Turf
Class:Listed
Horse Race:VRC St Leger
Location:Flemington Racecourse
Melbourne, Australia
Inaugurated:1857
Race Type:Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website:Victoria Racing Club
Distance:2,800 metres
Track:Left-handed
Qualification:Three-year-olds
Weight:Set weights with penalties
Purse:$300,000 (2022)

The VRC St Leger is a Listed Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 2800 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on ANZAC Day.[1]

History

First run in 1857, the race was originally held in March as part of the Victoria Racing Club Autumn Carnival. In 1907 the race was run on the same race card as the Newmarket Handicap.

In an effort to promote the Australian Thoroughbred breeding industry, from 1932 to 1956 geldings were banned from competing in the St. Leger.Past St Leger Stakes winners include Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductees Grand Flaneur (1881), Poseidon (1907), Phar Lap (1930), Tranquil Star (1941) and Tulloch (1958). Several winners also captured Australia's most prestigious race, the Melbourne Cup. They are: Grand Flaneur (1881), Phar Lap (1930), Comic Court (1949), Delta (1950), and Gurner's Lane (1982). In 1956, Sailor's Guide won the race and in 1958 raced in North America where he defeated a top international field in the forerunner to the Breeders' Cup Turf, the then very prestigious Washington, D.C. International Stakes.

Venue

The St. Leger was hosted by Moonee Valley Racecourse in 2001 and again in 2007 due to track refurbishments being carried out at the Flemington racecourse.

Distance

The race was held over a distance of 14 furlongs, 132 yards until 1973 when it was modified to the metric distance of 2800 metres. In 1975 the race was run over 2700 metres.[2] In 2001 and 2007, the distance was changed to 2500 metres when the race was run at Moonee Valley Racecourse while Flemington was under redevelopment.

Grade

Records

Previously tied with T.J. Smith at six wins, in 2005 Bart Cummings set the record for most victories by a trainer when he won the race for the seventh time.

Winners

† Dead heat

See also

The VRC St. Leger is one of a number of similar events around the world, although many are no longer restricted to three-year-olds. European variations include the Irish St. Leger, the Prix Royal-Oak, the Deutsches St. Leger and the St. Leger Italiano. Other national equivalents include the Kikuka Shō, the New Zealand St. Leger and the English St. Leger Stakes held at Doncaster.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Winners and Past Results for the St Leger Stakes . Pro Group Racing Australia. 2014. 24 April 2015.
  2. Web site: Winners and Past Results for the St Leger Stakes . Pro Group Racing Australia. 2012. 16 April 2013.
  3. Web site: 2022 Result  - VRC St Leger (held 25 April 2022). breednet.com.au . 25 April 2022.
  4. Web site: 2021 Result  - VRC St Leger (held 25 April 2021). Racing (Aus) . 25 April 2021.
  5. Web site: 2020 Result  - VRC St Leger (held 25 April 2020). Racing (Aus) . 25 April 2020.
  6. Web site: 2019 Result  - VRC St Leger (held 25 April 2019). Racing (Aus) . 25 April 2019.
  7. Web site: 2018 Result  - VRC St Leger (held 25 April 2018). Racing (Aus) . 25 April 2018.
  8. Web site: 2017 Result  - VRC St Leger (held 25 April 2017). Racing (Aus) . 25 April 2017.
  9. Web site: 20165 Result  - VRC St Leger (held 25 April 2016). Racing Vic. (Aus) . 25 April 2016.
  10. Web site: 2015 Result  - VRC St Leger (held 25 April 2015). Racing Vic. (Aus) . 25 April 2015.
  11. Web site: 2014 Result  - VRC St Leger (held 25 April 2014). Racing Vic. (Aus) . 24 April 2015.
  12. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=846306&race_code=5030528 2013 result
  13. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=838913&race_code=5024201 2012 result
  14. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=825603&race_code=5018196 2011 result
  15. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=5106162&race_code=5012115 2010 result
  16. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=5057701&race_code=5005715 2009 result
  17. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=810703&race_code=5001174 2008 result
  18. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=731725&race_code=829351 2007 result
  19. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=613708&race_code=766555 2006 result
  20. Web site: 2005 Result  - V R C St Leger (held 25 April 2005). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  21. Web site: 2004 Result  - V.R.C. St Leger (held 25 April 2004). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  22. Web site: 2003 Result  - V.R.C. St Leger (held 25 April 2003). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  23. Web site: 2002 Result  - V.R.C. St Leger (held 25 April 2002). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  24. Web site: 2001 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 2001). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  25. Web site: 2000 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 2000). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  26. Web site: 1999 Result  - V R C St. Leger (held 25 April 1999). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  27. Web site: 1998 Result  - St. Leger (held 25 April 1998). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  28. Web site: 1997 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 1997). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  29. Web site: 1996 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 1996). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  30. Web site: 1995 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 1995). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  31. Web site: 1994 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 1994). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  32. Web site: 1993 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 1 May 1993). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  33. Web site: 1992 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 1992). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  34. Web site: 1991 Result  - St. Leger Stks (Vrc) (held 25 April 1991). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  35. Web site: 1990 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 1990). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  36. Web site: 1989 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 1989). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  37. Web site: 1988 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 1988). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  38. Web site: 1987 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 1987). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  39. Web site: 1986 Result  - St. Leger Stks (held 25 April 1986). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  40. Web site: 1985 Result  - St Leger Stks (held 25 April 1985). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  41. Web site: 1984 Result  - St Leger Stks (held 25 April 1984). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  42. Web site: 1983 Result  - St Leger Stks (held 25 April 1983). breednet.com. 24 April 2015.
  43. Web site: VRC St Leger Stakes winners set for re-match . Tim. Habel. 26 April 2008. 16 April 2013. The Herald Sun, Melbourne.
  44. Web site: BIG RED SOUVENIRS. 13 May 2014. Phar Lap - The Story of Big Red.
  45. News: TODAY'S RACING. THE V.R.C. CARNIVAL. NEWMARKET HANDICAP. WON BY EBULLITION. (official 1907 result St. Leger Stakes) . The Barrier, Broken Hill. 4 March 1907. 16 April 2013. Trove Digital (Digitize). 1 (column 4). Started at 1/12on and won by 2 lengths in the time of 3m. 11s. .

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