Doncaster Racecourse has 35 meetings scheduled in 2026, and this guide covers every one. The season opens in the depths of winter with the Great Yorkshire Chase and covers several flat and jumps through the year. The highlight of this racecourse is always the St Leger Festival that runs annually in September.
Scroll below for the complete 2026 schedule, a season overview, and answers to the questions racegoers ask most for the Doncaster race meetings.
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Doncaster Racecourse Fixtures 2026
January
23rd and 24th: Great Yorkshire Chase (Jumps)
February
Thursday, 5th: Afternoon Jump Racing
6th and 7th: Grimthorpe Chase (Jumps)
March
Friday, 13th: Afternoon Jump Racing
Saturday, 28th: The Lincoln Handicap (Flat)
Sunday, 29th: Lincoln Family Fun Day (Flat)
April
Friday, 24th: Afternoon Flat Racing
Saturday, 25th: Evening Flat Racing
May
Saturday, 2nd: Summer Saturday (Flat)
Saturday, 16th: Summer Saturday (Flat)
June
Friday, 5th: Evening Flat Racing (Flat)
Saturday, 6th: Summer Saturday (Flat)
Sunday, 14th: Family Fun Day (Flat)
Saturday, 20th: Summer Saturday (Flat)
Friday, 26th: Afternoon Flat Racing (Flat)
July
Friday, 3rd: Afternoon Flat Racing (Flat)
Thursday, 9th: Afternoon Flat Racing (Flat)
Saturday, 18th: Summer Saturday (Flat)
Thursday, 23rd: Afternoon Flat Racing (Flat)
August
Saturday, 1st: Summer Saturday (Flat)
Saturday, 15th: Summer Saturday (Flat)
September
Thursday, 10th: Betfred St Leger Ladies Day (Flat)
Friday, 11th: Betfred St Leger Doncaster Cup Day (Flat)
Saturday, 12th: Betfred St Leger Day (Flat)
Sunday, 13th: Betfred Leger Legends Sunday Funday (Flat)
October
Friday, 23rd: Futurity Trophy (Flat)
Saturday, 24th: Futurity Trophy Stakes Day (Flat)
November
Saturday, 7th: November Handicap (Flat)
Friday, 27th: Jumps Season Opener
Saturday, 28th: Afternoon Jump Racing
December
11th and 12th: Christmas Jumper Raceday (Jumps)
Tuesday, 29th: Winter Family Fun Raceday (Jumps)
For a detailed list and to download the full fixture schedule, visit the official Doncaster Racecourse website.
Season Overview
Doncaster or “Donny” is one of the oldest racecourses in Britain. Meetings here date back to the 16th century. It’s also the largest in Britain by physical capacity.
The track itself is a left-handed, pear-shaped circuit of around 1 mile 7.5 furlongs. It’s a galloping course, mostly flat apart from a slight uphill gradient about ten furlongs from the finish (Rose Hill). The track is wide with no pronounced undulations, which is why it suits big, long-striding horses.
Doncaster Racecourse’s ground drains exceptionally well, so the going rarely feels testing even in winter. So, the ground mostly favours speed over stamina despite the galloping layout. The jumps circuit is also pretty forgiving with eleven fences or seven flights of hurdles, with a short run-in of just over a furlong.
The Doncaster race meetings are divided between flat and jumps seasons. The Flat season begins with the Lincoln Handicap in March. Horse racing fans can look forward to two Group 1 meetings this season: the Vertem Futurity Trophy (the former Racing Post Trophy), and the St Leger Stakes in September.
Winter is the jumps season, including the National Hunt. While the jumps races open in November, the highlight of the season comes in January (the Great Yorkshire Chase) and March (Grimthorpe Chase).
Pro tip: If you plan to witness the Doncaster race fixtures in person, choose the St Leger Festival in September. You’ll not only experience top-tier racing, but also get to be a part of high fashion and glamour on themed days. Moreover, this year marks the 250th anniversary of the St Leger Stakes, so you can expect a high-profile competition.
The St Leger Festival
The St Leger Festival is the biggest week in Doncaster’s calendar and one of the highlights of the British Flat season. The centrepiece, St Leger Stakes, marks the third and final leg of the British Triple Crown (the 2000 Guineas Stakes and the Epsom Derby being the other two).
The festival is named after its founder, Colonel Anthony St Leger, an Irish soldier, who established the famous Doncaster races in 1776. This year, the races scheduled over four days, from 10th to 13th September 2026:
- Thursday, 10th September, Ladies Day: This is the festival opener, seen as the week’s headline fashion event. The fun will continue after racing with live entertainment and roaming performances.
- Friday, 11th September, Betfred St Leger Doncaster Cup Day: The Doncaster Cup is a Group 2 race for horses aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2m1f. The second day is also known as the Betfred Gent’s Day. Ibiza icon Ellie Sax will perform her popular show, ‘Ellie Sax Presents Ibiza Anthems Live’, after the races.
- Saturday, 12th September, St Leger Day: This is the centrepiece event, marking the festival’s biggest day and its largest crowd. This will be the 250th anniversary of the St Leger Stakes, which is a Group 1 race run over 1m6f. It carries a prize fund worth £700,000.
- Sunday, 13th September, Betfred Leger Legends Sunday Funday: This day closes the festival with a seven-race card. The Leger Legends charity race will be the highlight of the day.
FAQs
When does the Doncaster racing season start?
The Doncaster racing season is divided into two parts: flat and jumps. The flat season begins in springtime in March with the Lincoln races. The jumps season begins in November.
What is the biggest race at Doncaster?
The St Leger Stakes is the biggest and one of the most prestigious races in Britain. It has been run since 1776, and this year marks its 250th anniversary. The Group 1 race is open to 3 year olds, and is run over 1m6f. It is also the final leg of the British Triple Crown.
When is the St Leger Festival in 2026?
This is a four day festival held annually in September. This year, it runs from 10th to 13th September 2026. St Leger Day (festival feature) falls on Saturday, 12th September.
Does Doncaster host both Flat and Jumps racing?
Yes. Doncaster is a dual-purpose racecourse. It stages Flat racing during spring and summer time. The National Hunt jump races are hosted in autumn and winter months.
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