Travelsleuth's Diary: September Sporting Fixtures
start of the Cotswolds. It should take about 90 minutes to drive from London; leave the M40 motorway at Junction 9, before Oxford, and follow signs to Blenheim. The nearest railway station is Oxford; a taxi will add a good £10 to your travel bill.
DRESS: Smart country clothes.
ACCOMMODATION: Good nearby accommodation is offered by the Bear Hotel, Park Street, Woodstock, Oxon 0X20 1SZ (tel: 0870 400 8202; fax: 01993 813380), a comfortable and traditional coaching inn a short walk away in central Woodstock. Consider also the Blenheim Guesthouse and Tea Rooms, 17 Park Street, Woodstock, Oxon 0X20 1SJ (tel: 01993 813814; fax: 01993 813810; email: Theblenheim® aol.com); a small, friendly establishment. For something more grand, enjoy Oxford's sumptuous Randolph Hotel, Beaumont Street, Oxford 0X1 2LN (tel: 01865 203286; fax: 01865 790940).
Flat-racing: The St Leger Festival
DATE: 14 September, 2002.
VENUE: Doncaster Racecourse, Leger Way, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN2 6BB.
DESCRIPTION: The Great St Leger Stakes is the feature race of a four-day event. It has been run at Doncaster since 1778 and is a major English Classic race. The September meeting
also includes four other important races, including the
Doncaster Cup. The course is left-handed and mainly flat,
extending to almost two miles, with 11 fences to a circuit'
and a 240-yard run-in. The meeting attracts the top social
set. Historically, Monarchs and aristocrats, notably the Duke
of Devonshire and the Duke of Portland, have been celebrated participants. The Queen has enjoyed some of her best
racing days here, especially in her Jubilee year of 1977, when
her horse Dumfermline won both the the St Leger and the Oaks.
FURTHER INFORMATION & TICKETS: Write to Doncaster Racecourse, Grand Stand, Leger Way, Doncaster
South Yorkshire DN2 6BB; tel: 01302 320066; fax: 01302
323271; email: info@britishracing.com.
For the best views,
take a private box in the St Leger Stand, offering a glimpse
into the Winners' Enclosure as well as the finishing post.
Each box has a private bar, closed-circuit television, and
two-level viewing balcony, together with a dedicated
bar attendant. The Royal Box has spectacular views of the
course and the Winners' Enclosure, and its own lift.
GETTING THERE: The racecourse is in the South Yorkshire town of Doncaster, close to the Ml 8 motorway, off the
A638 route (leave the motorway at Junctions 3 or 4).
Helicopters may land at the course by prior arrangement.
Trains link Doncaster with London King's Cross.
ACCOMMODATION: Local favourite among racegoers is the Grand St. Leger Hotel (tel: 01302 364111;
Latest Articles