Crow: the winner's blanket for the bicentenary St Leger, 1976

The St Leger Stakes is the oldest Classic race in the world and has a history dating back to 1776. It was first run a fairly humble 25 guineas sweepstakes on Cantley Common and was won by the 2nd Marquis of Rockingham's Allabaculia. At a dinner party held at the Red Lion Inn, Doncaster, in 1778, the Marquis of Rockingham proposed that the race be called thereafter The St Leger Stakes, as a compliment to the popular local sportsman Lt-Gen Anthony St Leger of Park Hill. From this point the venue was changed to Town Moor.

In 1976 Doncaster Racecourse celebrated the bicentenary of the St Leger. The race was won by the French colt Crow, owned by Mr Daniel Wildenstein, trained by Angel Penna & ridden by Yves Saint-Martin. Crow, a chestnut by the Arc winner Exbury out of Carmosina won a total of 5 career races in France, England & the USA including the Prix Eugene Adam, the Ormonde Stakes & the Coronation Cup. He also finished 2nd in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.