FEATURE STORY
VRC ST LEGER NOTES
NOTES BY ANDREW LEMON
The VRC St Leger of 2800 metres is a classic 3YO staying race held at Flemington in autumn since 1857 – so it pre-dates the Melbourne Cup (first run 1861).
The Victoria Derby at Flemington dates its history back to 1855 so is technically an older race.
The first St Leger at Flemington was run by the newly formed Victoria Jockey Club , rival to the Victoria Turf Club. The two clubs disbanded in 1864 to form the VRC.
It was first won by a horse called Artaxerxes, raced by ‘Mr Purcell’ for owner John Tait of NSW: date Wednesday 18 February 1857. Three horses ran. That year the distance was 1½ miles. In 1858 the Victoria Jockey Club made a point of setting the distance at 1 mile 6 furlongs and 132 yards (‘The exact distance of the Doncaster St Leger’ – see below). Later in the 19th century it was reduced slightly to 1 mile 6 furlongs (1¾ miles).
The Victoria Racing Club took over the running of the St Leger from 1864. That year it was run in May, but from 1865 it was run as part of the March autumn meeting.
VRC St Leger winners include Melbourne Cup winners Grand Flaneur, Martini Henry, Poseidon, Patron, Prince Foote, Patrobas, Artilleryman, Spearfelt, Trivalve, Phar Lap, Hall Mark (dead heat), Comic Court and Delta.
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