Doncaster is preparing for its annual St Leger race week, marking the 250th running of the world's oldest classic horse race. The meeting, first held in 1776, has grown from an aristocratic pursuit into a broad social occasion that draws thousands to the city, blending tradition with a modern festival atmosphere that includes Ladies' Day fashion and lavish catering.

At its peak in the railway era, the St Leger drew crowds of up to 200,000, with 173 special trains laid on in 1892 alone; this year around 30,000 people are expected. Organisers will serve 45,000 glasses of champagne and prosecco and prepare 750kg of fruit for Pimm's, while royal attendees over the decades have included Queen Elizabeth II, King George VI and King Charles, with Princess Anne attending this year. Local landmarks such as the historic Salutation coaching inn remain tied to the event, though the once-grand Grand St Leger hotel has stood derelict since 2022.