Steeped in rich history, the St Leger Stakes event is held in September every year, marking the final British classic horse racing event of the season. The Group 1 flat course event takes place at Doncaster Racecourse and is open to three-year-old fillies. Read on to learn more about this famous race and all you need to know about St Leger betting.
- Tournament Structure of the St Leger Stakes
- St Leger Stakes Betting Odds, Promotions, Tips & Predictions
- 5 Reasons To Bet on the St Leger Stakes
- Best St Leger Stakes Betting Sites With Live Streaming
- Popular St Leger Stakes Betting Markets
- History of the St Leger Stakes
- Upcoming Sporting Events
- Similar Tournaments to the St Leger Stakes
- St Leger Stakes Betting FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
Best Betting Sites for St Leger Stakes
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Tournament Structure of the St Leger Stakes
Undoubtedly one of the most prestigious events in British horse racing, the St Leger Festival offers a blend of history and spectacle every year. It culminates in the Group One St Leger Stakes itself, which runs on the fourth (and final) day.
The field is a long one at 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards, which equates to 2,937 metres. In fact, it is more than 2 furlongs longer than the longest of the US Triple Crown races – the Belmont Stakes.
The prize pool is over £700,000, with the eventual winner pocketing around £400,000 in total.
We will dive into this year's race, along with the best betting sites to use, and share our expert predictions.
St Leger Stakes Betting Odds, Promotions, Tips & Predictions
Considering that the St Leger Stakes is one of the prestigious five British Classics, you’d better believe that the standard of thoroughbreds taking part in this historic race is world-class. This means there’s plenty of potential winners, with fewer outsiders than some other races of its kind.
The 2022 St Leger Stakes will take place from 7th September until 10th September, with the run itself scheduled for 3.33pm on the 10th. Our below breakdown of this year's betting odds and promotions, alongside our expert tips and predictions, should help you get a strong head start to your St Leger Stakes horse racing journey.
St Leger Stakes Betting Odds 2022
Bear in mind that these odds are just reflective of what is available at the time of writing, and can change closer to the start of the race. There are 14 racers with entries right now; however, this is likely to be trimmed back with the final declarations. That change will have an impact on available odds.
| Horse | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| New London | 5/6 | Paddy Power |
| Eldar Eldarov | 7/1 | bet365 |
| Secret State | 8/1 | Coral |
| Hoo Ya Mal | 10/1 | Parimatch |
| Zechariah | 12/1 | Betfair |
| Haskoy | 12/1 | William Hill |
| United Nations | 14/1 | Coral |
| Bluegrass | 20/1 | BoyleSports |
| Emily Dickinson | 20/1 | Parimatch |
| French Claim | 33/1 | Parimatch |
| Giavellotto | 33/1 | BetVictor |
| Waterville | 33/1 | Coral |
| Anchorage | 66/1 | 888sport |
| Lizzie Jean | 200/1 | Paddy Power |
We will make updates to account for any odds changes as soon as possible. In the meantime, feel free to check out our updated racecards for today and tomorrow's races.
St Leger Stakes Tips 2022
Part of the joy and mass appeal of betting on a race like St Leger Stakes is that it is as accessible to newcomers as it is to experts. You can just place a bet on any market which stands out to you, whether it's a name you are drawn to or you may just like the odds.
Nonetheless, if you do want to make the most of your bets, there are additional things to consider that can give your bets the best chance of success. Here, we’re going to provide a selection of betting tips and predictions to help you with exactly that.
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Check out the non-runner terms There is a chance that the horse you have backed ends up not racing at all. If so, what happens to your stake? Quality operators should make all their terms and conditions clear, and they should have a non-runner policy you can easily find. One fair example of this kind of policy is called Non-Runner No Bet, where you receive a refund in the event of a non-runner. However, this is not available everywhere, so be sure to check with your individual operator′s policy before backing St Leger Stakes winners with them.
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Research, research, research There is no guarantee of winning in any horse racing market, no matter how sound your betting strategy is. The single best thing you can do is research as much as possible. For a race like St Leger Stakes, the best way of doing this would be to study the previous form of the runners taking part. This will help provide insight and form the basis of coherent predictions, rather than just a shot in the dark.
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Consider the type of race When you check out the form of the runners, pay particular attention to how they have fared in similar races. Naturally, their results in any kind of similar circumstances will be especially relevant. You can often, for instance, find results on a runner′ s performance in flat races specifically, which can be especially helpful in picking markets for St Leger Stakes betting.
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Consider your preferred risk level Would you rather take a long shot, play it safe, or land somewhere in between? This is important to consider, as choosing a market is not just about predicting St Leger Stakes winners – it also requires you to consider the quality of the odds. The good news is most races like this will have great options for those who like to bet on short to long odds, especially when you consider the possibility of each-way and place betting. Researching to establish a smart prediction and then finding odds that work with how you like to bet is key to the most satisfying betting experience.
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Read the promotional terms and conditions There are lots of great promotions available to horse racing fans, especially for big events such as St Leger Stakes. However, not all bonuses are created equal. Most look good initially, but many fall down when you dive deeper into their terms and conditions. We do everything we can here at ThePuntersPage to provide you with the most comprehensive look at all the most relevant and recent promotions, including horse racing offers. However, the best way to fully understand any bonus is to read those terms for yourself. This is because all promotions are subject to change at a moment′s notice, so the actual page itself will provide the most up to date and comprehensive look at what is offered.
St Leger Stakes Predictions 2022
To help you decide on your St Leger Stakes racing selections, we’ve decided to give a couple of our own predictions based on our analysis of the potential St Leger Stakes winners so far. Keep in mind we are not privy to any special information; we are just sports fans providing analysis based on what we see and our own logic. All or some of these could be right or wrong – these predictions are simply to provide you with a starting point for picking your own markets.
Winner will have odds of 10/1 or longer
Right now, there are three runners cast as favourites according to the odds. Heads and shoulders above them all is New London at 5/6 odds.While we certainly respect the chances of the favourite, we think this may be discounting the competition a little too harshly. We could easily see a horse with odds of 10/1 or longer walk away as surprise St Leger Stakes winners, meaning potentially large returns.
New London will place
While we think that there’s a good chance New London will fall short of lofty expectations, that doesn’t mean we expect complete failure here. Such an accomplished runner looks very likely to at least place. That said, we don’t believe this will yield especially generous odds, so we wouldn’t necessarily recommend backing this horse if you get a bad deal. Nonetheless, this consideration may help put the rest of your St Leger Stakes horse racing predictions into perspective.
One of the longest odds options won’t compete
Runners typically get trimmed at the five-day confirmation stage, which we think accounts for some of the very long odds you’ll see in our St Leger Stakes betting table. We think they are right, and the likes of Lizzie Jean may not make it to the showdown at September 10th. That said, if you really do want to back something for huge returns, you still can. Just be sure to check you’ll get a refund should they end up a non-runner, as we suggested in our earlier tips.
Either Eldar Elvarov or Secret State will fail to make the top three
If we’re predicting that some of the horses with lower odds will overachieve and that New London will place, that means that one of the other top picks must surely fall below the trio at the top. That’s why we’re predicting either, or possibly both, Secret State of Eldar Elvarow to fail to place at St Leger Stakes.
The record won’t be broken
While there’s a huge amount of talent at the 2022 St Leger Stakes, we don’t think it likely that a new course record is set. That accolade is held by Logician and Frankie Dettori with their historic winning time of 3m 00.27 seconds from 2019. A remarkable time, not unbeatable, but we feel unlikely to be toppled here. Nonetheless, if you find a relevant specials market with decent odds on the course record market, feel free to disagree.
St Leger Stakes Betting Promotions 2022
At the time of writing, there aren’t any specific St Leger Stakes betting promotions. Horse racing betting already enjoys a huge selection of great promotions in general, arguably more than any other sport except perhaps football.
There are best odds guaranteed and extra place promotions, for instance, solely for horse racing. In addition, most general sports betting promotions can be utilised on horse racing and St Leger. While exclusive offers are possible closer towards the event, there are already plenty out there to amplify your bets. The following five are just a few examples:
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Elsewhere, newcomers at Betfair can grab up to £100 in free bets – perfect for the Doncaster races. All you need to do is bet 5 bets of £10 or more to get a £20 free bet, and you can do this five times. Minimum odds are 1.5 and free bets are valid for 30 days.
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Fancy a promotion specific to horse racing? Check out the bet365 bet boosts, which provide bigger prices on selected runners across UK, Irish and some international races. They also provide live streams for horse races, which is surely a plus..
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Get a £20 free bet on any sport when you join Coral and bet £5 at minimum odds of 1/2. Use your free bet within seven days of it being credited, just note that the free bet amount won’t be included in any winnings.
5 Reasons To Bet on the St Leger Stakes
With so many fantastic horse racing events available to bet on across the world, you may be wondering why this one in particular deserves your attention. Let's take a look at five simple reasons we think you should consider St Leger Stakes betting.
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You can watch the best UK racing has to offer: The best jockeys, trainers and horses will be in attendance at St Leger, so you are going to see some of the finest horse racing the country has to offer. Remember, the best bets should always be entertaining.
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Enjoy lots of great promotions: As discussed, St Leger enjoys a wonderful mix of general and specific horse racing promotions, meaning you can get great offers across all kinds of different operators. Remember too that you can sign up to multiple bookmakers to take advantage of their promotional pages.
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It’s the final leg of the English Triple Crown: If you like to follow the most prestigious races in the country as both an English Classic and the last part of the English Triple Crown, St Leger Stakes is a must-see.
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There’s a relatively small number of runners: While this is a huge race in terms of accolades, it usually has a modest amount of runners – at least compared to the likes of the Grand National. This means your pick has a greater chance of winning, and studying the form sheets is a little less intensive.
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Competitive odds are standard: A huge event with plenty of operators involved means competitive odds. In fact, so long as you pick a decent bookmaker, you should not be disappointed with what is offered.
Best St Leger Stakes Betting Sites With Live Streaming
Popular St Leger Stakes Betting Markets
There are many ways to bet on the St Leger Stakes race. You can even bet in the ante-post market if you want to place your bet early; however, it may be risky since if your horse does not run, your bet loses.
As it gets closer to the race date, bookmakers may offer non-runner, no bet, also called NRNB. This means your stake is returned when your pick doesn’t run, but it also means you miss out on a better price. The most popular horse racing markets for this race, though, are by far the win and each-way bets.
There are a few other options that could pay out big for small stakes if you pull off a forecast or tricast win. Other bets might include ‘without the fav (Favourite)' and match betting markets, where you bet on one horse to beat another one. Here are a few of the most popular selections for St Leger Stakes betting:
Forecast Betting
A forecast bet is where you select two horses to finish in the first and second place in the race. If your picks are successful and end up in the order you predicted, your bet wins.
Tricast Betting
A tricast bet is somewhat similar to a forecast; however, as you may have guessed, the bet stretches further to include the third horse. The horses you select all need to finish in the top three places in the exact order listed on your betting slip. Such bets require precision to succeed and can pay out at high odds.
Win Betting
The most common and straightforward bet is predicting the winning horse – all you need for it to pay out is for your selection to be the first horse past the post. If it fails to do so, then you will lose the bet.
Best St Leger Stakes betting site for win betting: Coral
Show Betting
For a show bet to win, your horse must finish in first, second, or third place. This bet provides excellent chances to win with modest payouts. However, be careful: the show bet is not to be confused with an each-way bet. This is a wager on a horse to come in the first three or four places, making the odds for show bets smaller and the likelihood of success much greater. Unlike an each-way bet, this wager pays no differently whether your horse wins or comes third.
Place Betting
A place bet offers favourable odds and chances. To win, your chosen horse must finish in first, second, or third position. This is a very similar selection to the show bet, but far more common in the UK, where it can make up one half of an each-way bet. Essentially, this bet will pay out so long as your selection finishes among the places, the amount of which differ from race to race.
Quinella Betting
Deriving its name from the Spanish game quiniela, a quinella bet offers average winning chances. Your picks will have to finish in first and second place in either order, with boxing three horses considered to be standard practice. Also known as a reverse forecast, this bet will pay out if you successfully predict the first two horses home – it doesn’t even matter in which order they finish.
Exacta Betting
An exacta bet is a bit more difficult to win, as your horses have to finish first and second in the correct order. It is a somewhat riskier horse race bet, with the payout reliant on the odds.
Best St Leger Stakes betting site for exacta betting: William Hill
Trifecta Betting
A trifecta is harder to win since your chosen horses must finish the race in first, second and third place in the precise order you list them. It can be a costly bet, especially if you wager on several horses at once.
Superfecta Betting
A superfecta is a tough bet to win since your horses must finish first, second, third and fourth. You need a sizeable bankroll for a chance of a big payoff. With the ‘super’ added to its name, this bet is the same as above but with one extra selection. To make a profit, your four selections have to finish in the same order as you bet on.
Best St Leger Stakes betting site for superfecta: Paddy Power
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History of the St Leger Stakes
The first race dates back to 1776, making it the oldest of all the classic British races. Few horse races can match the St Leger Stakes in terms of history and culture.
A Doncaster based army officer and politician named Anthony St Leger devised the two-mile race, which was originally titled A Sweepstake of 25 Guineas.
The first-ever running went off at Cantley Common on 24 September 1776 and was organised by the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, whose horse, Allabaculia, won the inaugural event. After it was suggested that the race be named after the Marquess, he himself declined. Instead, he proposed the race be named after its founder – Anthony St Leger.
The first races were run over a full two-mile distance and held at Cantley Common, but it subsequently moved to its current location after the first two years.. However, the range was not reduced until 1813. Since then, not much has changed.
On a few occasions, the race was moved to alternative locations, notably during the Great War, where it was transferred to Newmarket and briefly renamed the September Stakes.
In 1939, the event was cancelled when the Second World War broke out, and from 1940 to 1945 it was held at various courses, including the Manchester Racecourse and the Thirsk Racecourse.
1939 was the only year the race was not run at all – it even took place during the 2020 global pandemic. The St Leger name has inspired several other races throughout the world, which also use the same name. They include the Irish St. Leger, the New Zealand St. Leger, the VRC St. Leger, and the French St. Leger.
The race has a long and checkered history with a few famous landmarks over the years. A horse called Champion was the first to achieve the St Leger and Derby double in 1800, and West Australian was the first horse to complete the Triple Crown in 1853.
More recently in 2012, the race created drama and memories when Camelot fell agonisingly short of matching Nijinsky’s 1970 feat of winning the British Triple Crown. The horse came in second in the renewal as a favourite, having previously won the Guineas and Derby. He was the only recent contender in the pursuit of the Triple Crown to date, with few trainers and owners managing to emulate Nijinsky in the modern era.
St Leger Stakes Roll of Honour
The St Leger Stakes roll of honour must include Nijinsky, who remains the most famous name to claim victory since the race began. The Vincent O’Brien-trained colt is an iconic name in equine sport due to his remarkable success in the Doncaster classic in 1970.
The two-year-old Nijinsky made history in 1971 as he breezed through all three classic races, ending with his St Leger Stakes win in September that year. More recently, Irish handler Aidan O’Brien tasted success, saddling Capri and Kew Gardens and sweeping to victory in 2017 and 2018.
Below are the winners for the last ten years.
Recent St Leger Stakes Winners
| Year | Horse | Jockey |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hurricane Lane | William Buick |
| 2020 | Galileo Chrome | Tom Marquand |
| 2019 | Logician | Frankie Dettori |
| 2018 | Kew Gardens | Ryan Moore |
| 2017 | Capri | Ryan Moore |
| 2016 | Harbour Law | George Baker |
| 2015 | Simple Verse | Andrea Atzeni |
| 2014 | Kingston Hill | Andrea Atzeni |
| 2013 | Leading Light | Joseph O'Brien |
| 2012 | Encke | Mickael Barzalona |
| 2011 | Masked Marvel | William Buick |
| 2010 | Arctic Cosmos | William Buick |
St Leger Key Stats
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St Leger is the longest of Britain’s five classic races.
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The inaugural race took place in 1776.
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Weights for colts are 9st 1lb; weights for Fillies are 8st 12lb.
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The race is open to three-year-old horses of both sexes.
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William Hill has been the official sponsor since 2017.
Upcoming Sporting Events
Similar Tournaments to the St Leger Stakes
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11th – 13th November 2022, Cheltenham November Festival: Cheltenham’s other big event, but one that starts at the beginning of the National Hunt season rather than at the end.
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19th November 2022, The Betfair Chase: This race takes place at Haydock park over a distance of 3 miles, 1 furlong, and 125 yards, traditionally marking the start of the jump season in British horse racing.
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3rd December 2022, Tingle Creek Chase: Raced at Sandown Park in early December, this is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase, which goes off over a distance of 1 mile and 7 furlongs.
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2nd – 3rd June 2023, Epsom Derby and Epsom Oaks: Considered by many to be the most prestigious and certainly the richest of the British Classics is the Epsom Derby, which takes place on the first Saturday of June each year. It’s a little shorter than St Leger Stakes, taking place over 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards.
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6th May 2023, 2000 Guineas Stakes: The opening leg of the British Crown is the historic 2000 Guineas Stakes. It is therefore a Group 1 flat race and can be found on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket around the end of April/start of May annually. It takes place over a clear mile, as does the 1000 Guineas Stakes.
St Leger Stakes Betting FAQs
The best betting sites for the St Leger Stakes are William Hill, Coral and Betfred.
The St Leger Stakes can be watched live through ITV Racing on ITV 1.
The 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby are the first two classics of the season, and they are both shorter than the St Leger Stakes. Horses who are outpaced in the first two contests may find themselves at Doncaster anyway later in the campaign.
The St Leger Stakes Festival is held annually every September, and is the most highly-anticipated event of its kind of the year.
The event takes place at the famous Doncaster Racecourse.
The running distance is one mile, six and a half furlongs.
The prize money is worth around £700,000, with almost £400,000 going to the winner.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The St Leger Stakes is one of the most prestigious of the five British Classics, alongside the Derby, the Oaks, the 2,000 Guineas and the 1,000 Guineas.
Betting on this event can yield decent winnings if you take advantage of the attractive odds online bookies tend to offer – you can enhance your horse racing experience and triumph like a champion!