Festival of racing marked by exhibition

Hopes are high that Camelot, the horse that won the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby, will travel to Doncaster early next month to win the St Leger, becoming the first horse to complete the historic triple victory since Nijinsky in 1970.

Racecourse bosses are currently busy with the build-up to the meeting, and yesterday staff at the town’s museum and art gallery were putting the finishing touches to an exhibition which is themed around the landmark festival.

Among the pieces on display is an oil painting depicting West Australian, the first horse ever to win Triple Crown, which was painted in 1853, the year of the horse’s historic success.

Mayor of Doncaster Peter Davies said: “This exhibition is a great way to learn more about Doncaster’s rich racing heritage including the world famous St Leger.

“Some of the artworks featured in the exhibition are not often on display so I would encourage people to catch them while they can.”

The exhibition will also include sculptures and paintings by local equestrian artist Amanda Hughes-Lubeck.

She said: “My work seemed a natural fit with the exhibition, so I was happy to lend the museum a number of artworks including a sculpture of a rearing stallion which I created at Doncaster Racecourse.”

Established in 1776, the St. Leger is the oldest of Britain’s five classic horse races. It is the last of the five to be run each year, and its distance is longer than any of the other four.

The event was devised by Anthony St. Leger, an army officer and politician who lived near Doncaster.

This year the race will be run on Saturday, September 15