The St Leger, the oldest classic remaining on the Victorian Racing Calender, will be decided on Anzac Day at Flemington tomorrow.

A race that has seen many changes, almost an embarrassment to racing due to the small fields it continued to attract, there was simply no interest in the race or the result.

Previously the race was run in every state of Australia, one by one they began to drop off, leaving it to Flemington to run the race alone.

Formerly the race drew no more than about half a dozen starters at best, it was usually a pretty dull affair, often an odds on favourite, one good reason to end up at the bar.

First run in Victoria in 1857, four years before he Melbourne Cup, and 28 years before the Derby, it was designed as the major staying event for the three year olds in the autumn.

When the autumn carnival was revamped at Flemington, the St Leger, run over 2800 metres, was replaced by the Australian Guineas at a more realistic distance of 1600 metres, a more suitable distance that would attract sprinter-milers, and worthy of a substantial increase in prize money.

The St Leger was in limbo until such time it was slotted into the Anzac Day program at the same distance; it has become a feature and has worked well ever since.

The race has suffered elsewhere, in Ireland four year olds are accepted as starters, due to the lack of response received from trainers of three year olds.

Tulloch was the last horse to win dual St Legers the VRC by 12 lengths, starting at 2-11 favourite, and the AJC version, later starting at 1-12 favourite, by 20 lengths from Prince Darius, with Pin Head a furlong behind in third place.

Doncaster, in Yorkshire, is the home of the St Leger in the U K, a magnificent race course where the horse has been considered first, he is the main criteria and that is how it should he.

The St Leger, run over 2900 metres, named in honour of Colonel Anthony St Leger, the first great horse to win the laurels was Hambletonian in 1795.

The paddock area where the horses parade, before the jockeys mount up, is at least 150 metres in length.