Inaugurated 1857 Surface Turf Distance 2,800 m Purse 200,000 USD (2016) | Track Left-handed Qualification Three-year-olds | |
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Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing | ||
1981 vrc st leger horse race flemington
The Victoria Racing Club 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.
Contents
- 1981 vrc st leger horse race flemington
- Race history
- Race venue
- Race distance
- Race grade
- Race records
- References
The race name is the only surviving one as other race clubs around Australia have eliminated the long distance race from their calendar.
Race history
First run in 1857, the race was originally held in March as part of the VRC 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), 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.
Race 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.
Race 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. 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.
Race grade
Race 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.