South Yorkshire documentary maker and multi-media practitioner Wayne Sables (pictured right, alongside Tom Marquand with last year’s trophy) has received funding for a new project celebrating 250 years of the internationally celebrated St Leger Festival.
The Doncaster Racecourse Betfred St Leger Festival is hailed as the world’s oldest Classic horse race and is one of the most prestigious race weeks of the British horse racing calendar, attracting thousands of visitors over four days every September.
Famous guests have included Charles Dickens, who visited the St Leger in Doncaster in 1857 alongside his friend and fellow author Wilkie Collins.
Royal visitors have included frequent guest King Edward VII, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II – who famously attended in 1953 during her coronation year – while Hollywood royalty and racing enthusiast Bing Crosby was spotted in the crowds.
Queen of Crime Agatha Christie even chose the event as the setting for the climax of one of her most ingenious Hercule Poirot stories, The ABC Murders.
Now Sables has received National Lottery Heritage funding through Heritage Doncaster to create a new piece celebrating the 250 years of the St Leger and its enduring appeal to race lovers.
He will be working on the project alongside We Great Ladies – writers, performers and visual artists Becky Newbould and Gemma Whelan.
Also taking part will be South Yorkshire designer and environmental champion Estelle Pearce.
“It’s early days for the project right now but what we will be creating is a digital exhibition that will be presented at the St Leger itself and then also at Doncaster’s Danum Gallery,” said Wayne.
“The story of the St Leger goes back over more than two centuries and has a fascinating cast of characters from the famous to the infamous!
“We have a really great team assembled – Becky and Gemma are fantastic performers and writers and Estelle is an experienced digital content creator and digital fashion expert.
“I am delighted to have all three on board and believe that together we can create something that captures all the excitement and colour of this truly international event.
“What we also need now is people to share their St Leger stories and memories with us.
“Anybody who would like to be involved in the project can contact me via the Wayne Sables Project website – it’s the people of Doncaster and the people who have made the St Leger such a major international event who will really bring this project to life.
“Although it is being created for display at the race course and then at the Danum Gallery, there is no reason at all that it couldn’t have a life well beyond Doncaster.
“But none of this would be possible without National Lottery Heritage funding and we thank all the people who support the National Lottery and make that support possible.”
