King Charles and Queen Camilla to Visit Doncaster St. Leger Festival
The King and Queen are expected to make a historic visit to Doncaster racecourse on Saturday to watch Desert Hero attempt to win the Betfred St Leger.
The visit would be the first time a reigning British monarch has attended the festival since the Queen in 1953. The Queen was there to watch her horse, Aureole, in the St Leger.
The St Leger Festival is a prestigious fixture in the British sporting calendar, and has long been associated with royalty and tradition. It is the perfect setting for the King and Queen to experience firsthand the timeless allure of horse racing.
Desert Hero is a three-year-old colt trained in Newmarket by William Haggas. He gave the King his first taste of Royal Ascot stakes with a thrilling win in the King George V handicap.
The St Leger is the oldest flat horse race in the world, dating back to 1776. It is one of the five British Classic Races, and is the final Classic Race of the season.
The race is run over a distance of one mile and six furlongs (2,816 metres), and is a major event in the British racing calendar. It attracts thousands of spectators each year, and is also televised live on the BBC.
The King and Queen’s visit would be a welcome boost for the festival, and would help to cement its place as one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the world.
Based in Armthorpe, George Viola is the Senior Editor at City of Doncaster News. Previously he has worked for The Huffington Post.
