AJC St Leger explained

The AJC St Leger is an historical Australian Turf Club Thoroughbred horse race run over 2,600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney run under set weights with penalties for stayers three years and older.

History

The AJC St Leger is the oldest classic race in Australia derived from the English race and first run in 1841 as a 3YO event over 1½ miles at Homebush, Sydney and continued at the new Randwick Racecourse in 1861. Not run in 1854 & 1860 also 1960–1979 and 2002–2016.^[1]

The principal race was re-instated by the AJC Committee again in 1980 graded at Group 2 level, encouraged by a direct descendent of Major General Anthony St Leger who instigated the St Leger Stakes, first run at Doncaster Racecourse in Northern England in 1776.^[2]

The race ended in 2001 and reappeared as the St Leger Stakes (ATC) in late 2017 with the expanded 15 million Everest carnival in October and since being reinstated has not received graded status.^[3]

Notable winners include Sky Heights (2001), Tie The Knot (2000), Linesman (1996), Castletown (1991), Tawrrific (1989), Beau Zam (1988), Handy Proverb (1986), Gurner's Lane (1982),Tulloch (1958), Sailor's Guide (1956), Hydrogen (1952), Playboy (1950), Carbon Copy (1949), Gold Rod (1937), Peter Pan (1933), Phar Lap (1930), Limerick (1927), Windbag (1925), Prince Foote (1910), Poseidon (1907) and Newhaven (1897).^[4]

Distance

• 1841 - 1859 – 1 miles (~2400 metres)
• 1861 - 1959 – 1 miles (~2800 metres)
• 1980 - 2000 – 2800 metres
• 2001 onwards – 2600 metres

Grade

• 1841 - 1979 – Principal race
• 1980 - 2001 – Group 2
• 2018 - 2023 – Non graded
• 2024 onwards – Group 3

Winners

• 2024 – Athabascan^[5]
• 2023 – Land Legend^[6]
• 2022 – Stockman^[7]
• 2021 – Warning^[8]
• 2020 – Fun Fact^[9]
• 2019 – Hush Writer^[10]
• 2018 – Big Blue^[11]
• 2017 – Big Duke^[12]
• 2002–2016 – Race not held
• 2001 – Sky Heights
• 2000 – Tie The Knot
• 1999 – Inshallah
• 1998 – Bridleman
• 1997 – Interval
• 1996 – Linesman
• 1995 – Beaux Art
• 1994 – Gold Sovereign
• 1993 – Te Akau Nick
• 1992 – Tuff Enuff
• 1991 – Castletown
• 1990 – Chaleyer
• 1989 – Tawrrific
• 1988 – Beau Zam
• 1987 – Argonaut Style
• 1986 – Handy Proverb
• 1985 – Duanettes Girl
• 1984 – Port Fair
• 1983 – Forward Charge
• 1982 – Gurner's Lane
• 1981 – November Rain
• 1980 – Shogun
• 1960–1979 – Race not held
• 1959 – Bardshah
• 1958 – Tulloch
• 1957 – Monte Carlo
• 1956 – Sailor's Guide
• 1955 – Pride Of Egypt
• 1954 – Monarch
• 1953 – Sea Sovereign
• 1952 – Hydrogen
• 1951 – Aristocrat
• 1950 – Playboy
• 1949 – Carbon Copy
• 1948 – Cronides
• 1947 – Vigaro
• 1946 – Gay Lad
• 1945 – Accession
• 1944 – Mayfowl
• 1943 – Modulation
• 1942 – Its Funny
• 1941 – Lucrative
• 1940 – Reading
• 1939 – Mosaic
• 1938 – John Wilkes
• 1937 – Gold Rod
• 1936 – Allunga
• 1935 – Sylvandale
• 1934 – Limarch
• 1933 – Peter Pan
• 1932 – Middle Watch
• 1931 – Veilmond
• 1930 – Phar Lap
• 1929 – Strephon
• 1928 – Winalot
• 1927 – Limerick
• 1926 – Belgamba
• 1925 – Windbag
• 1924 – Lady Valais
• 1923 – Sir Andrew
• 1922 – Harvest King
• 1921 – Salitros
• 1920 – Millieme
• 1919 – Finmark
• 1918 – Prince Viridis
• 1917 – Thana
• 1916 – Kandos
• 1915 – Mountain Knight
• 1914 – Radnor
• 1913 – Wolawa
• 1912 – Jacamar
• 1911 – Cadonia
  • 1910 – Prince Foote 1909 – Lord Nolan
• 1908 – Mountain King
• 1907 – Poseidon
• 1906 – Lady Wallace
• 1905 – Dividend
• 1904 – Emir
• 1903 – Abundance
• 1902 – Sir Leonard
• 1901 – Clean Sweep
• 1900 – Parthian
• 1899 – Johansen
• 1898 – Amberite
• 1897 – Newhaven
• 1896 – Wallace
• 1895 – Cobbity
• 1894 – The Sailor Prince
• 1893 – Camoola
• 1892 – La Tosca
• 1891 – Correze
• 1890 – Dreadnought
• 1889 – Melos
• 1888 – Abercorn
• 1887 – Trident
• 1886 – Matchlock
• 1885 – Silver King
• 1884 – Legrand
• 1883 – Navigator
• 1882 – Wheatear
• 1881 – Progress
• 1880 – Petrea
• 1879 – Bosworth
• 1878 – Cap-A-Pie
• 1877 – Robinson Crusoe
• 1876 – Robin Hood
• 1875 – Kingsborough
• 1874 – Goldsbrough
• 1873 – Commodore
• 1872 – Hamlet
• 1871 – Lady Clifden
• 1870 – Moselle
• 1869 – Coquette
• 1868 – Glencoe
• 1867 – Fishhook
• 1866 – The Pitsford
• 1865 – Yattendon
• 1864 – Ramornie
• 1863 – Regno
• 1862 – Exeter
• 1861 – Alfred
• 1860 – Race not held
• 1859 – The Don
• 1858 – Chevalier
• 1857 – Lauristina
• 1856 – Stumpy
• 1855 – Bay Camden
• 1854 – Race not held
• 1853 – Cooramin
• 1852 – Surplice
• 1851 – Plover
• 1850 – Cossack
• 1849 – Pastile
• 1848 – Snake
• 1847 – Whalebone
• 1846 – Lady Theorem
• 1845 – Peter From Athlone
• 1844 – Blue Bonnet
• 1843 – Marchioness
• 1842 – Beeswing
• 1841 – Eleanor

Notes and References

1. Web site: Racing in Australia . Beginning of Horse Racing . www.tbheritage.com . 16 September 2021.
2. Web site: St Leger Stakes (ATC) . St Leger Stakes History . www.racingandsports.com . 16 September 2021.
3. Web site: The Everest Carnival . The Everest . www.theeverest.com.au . 16 September 2021.
4. Web site: AJC St Leger . St Leger Past Winners . pedigreequery.com . 16 September 2021.
5. Web site: 2024 Result  - The Star St Leger Stakes (held 19 October 2024) . racingpost.com . 25 October 2024.
6. Web site: 2023 Result  - Moët & Chandon St Leger Stakes (held 14 October 2023) . racingpost.com . 18 October 2023.
7. Web site: 2022 Result  - The Star St Leger Stakes (held 15 October 2022). racing.com. 19 November 2022.
8. Web site: 2021 Result  - Bentley St Leger Stakes (held 16 October 2021). racing.com. 16 September 2021.
9. Web site: 2020 Result  - Bentley St Leger Stakes (held 17 October 2020). racing.com. 17 September 2021.
10. Web site: 2019 Result  - Bentley St Leger Stakes (held 19 October 2019). racing.com. 17 September 2021.
11. Web site: 2018 Result  - Bisley Workwear St Leger Stakes (held 13 October 2018). racing.com. 17 September 2021.
12. Web site: 2017 Result  - Heineken St Leger Stakes (held 14 October 2017). racing.com. 17 September 2021.