Welcome to Discover Lakeside - Racing-from-Doncaster
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Racing from Doncaster
Early racing in Doncaster had been on Town Moor, but by 1776 the racecourse had moved south to nearby Cantley Common. After the enclosure of Cantley Common in 1777, the Corporation decided to make a new course not far away on the present site and built a Grandstand.
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony St Leger of Parkhill planned a sweep stake of 25 guineas for 3 year old horses, which would become the St Leger. There were three racing days, 24 – 26 September, and two races were held on each day. The race was first run in 1776, and the winner was Allabaculia, ridden by John Singleton. The owner was the Marquess of Rockingham and the trainer Christopher Scaife. Nearly 250 years later the St Leger is the world’s oldest classic horse race.
It is said that the name “St Leger” was introduced at a dinner held at the Red Lion Hotel, Market Place after the 1777 meeting and first used for the 1778 St Leger. The first name to be proposed was “The Rockingham Stakes”, but the Marquis is reputed to have said “No, it was my friend St Leger who suggested the thing to me – call it after him”.
Gulls at Doncaster Lakeside
Gulls are attracted to Lakeside, the most commonly seen being Black-headed Gulls (Laris Ridibundus). In late winter and spring it has a dark brown hood, which fades to a dark spot behind the eye in summer and autumn. It is a lively, noisy bird which feeds on insects, worms, piders, slugs and small fish. It is agile enough to snatch food on the wing and also tries to steal food from other birds, such as Grebes, as they surface with their catch. Blackheaded Gulls gather in large numbers at dusk to roost on the water at Lakeside.
Other gulls visit the Lakeside too, including Herring Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Glaucous Gull, Caspian Gull, Iceland Gull.
The content of this trail has been developed by the Doncaster Lakeside Wildlife Action Group. Visit their website at: http://lakesidewildlifeactiongroup.weebly.com/ or follow them on Twitter @WildlifeLakeDN4.
Question
What was on the lakeside site before the lake was built?
Answer: An Airfield