York confirmed as Leger host

Next year’s Ladbrokes St Leger meeting will be staged at York while Doncaster undergoes a £55m (€81.6m) redevelopment.

The final Classic of the season usually forms the highlight of a four-day fixture, but the meeting will be condensed into just two days in 2006.

In addition to the £475,000 (€704,400) Ladbrokes St Leger itself, racegoers over the two days will also be able to enjoy the six Group Two races – the Doncaster Cup, Park Stakes, Champagne Stakes, May Hill, Park Hill, and Flying Childers.

The Sceptre Stakes will also be transferred, along with the Heritage handicaps, such as the Ladbrokes Mallard and Portland Stakes.

These events will be augmented by the Group Three Strensall Stakes, which is normally run at York in September.

William Derby, chief executive at York, said: “Our course is run for the good of racing and we’re excited to be staging this showpiece festival offering over £1.2m (€1.8m) in prize money.

“We’re proud of our role in Yorkshire racing and understand the St Leger is a highlight of the season for fans in the county, so we’re delighted the fixture is staying within its boundaries.”

Ladbrokes Worldwide chief executive Chris Bell said: “We are delighted that the Ladbrokes St Leger is to stay in Yorkshire, its rightful home.

"We look forward to working closely with both York racecourse and Arena Leisure to ensure the successful running of the race under the Ladbrokes banner.”

British minister for sport Richard Caborn said: “It is wholly appropriate that the St Leger will stay in Yorkshire. York is the ideal venue to stage this great race until it returns to Doncaster.”

York will not be staging the St Leger for the first time, however, as the race was run on the Knavesmire in 1945 when Town Moor was being used in the war effort.

The York executive is working with the city council and other agencies on the details of the St Leger Festival and the two rescheduled York days.

Although York’s big meetings occupy their usual places in the calendar, the Wednesday and Sunday fixtures in the week before the Leger will now be staged earlier in the year, with the latter being held on June 18.

York will also have its first evening meeting for a number of years on July 27.