Doncaster Racecourse was proud to host the much-loved William Hill Lincoln Weekend again this year, as visitor numbers reached a five-year high, with nearly 12,000 attendees across the weekend.
First run in 1849 at Lincoln Racecourse, the Lincoln Handicap was not transferred to Doncaster until 1965. It has been a key fixture ever since, except in 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak, and traditionally marks the grand opening of the British flat racing season, which concludes at Doncaster Racecourse with the November Handicap.
The weekend saw a record-breaking Owner and Trainer turnout, with nearly 2,000 in attendance, an increase of more than 10% on last year for Doncaster.
Executive Director, Rachel Harwood, said: “We’re proud to host the William Hill Lincoln Weekend every year. It’s always a well-supported horse race, because it’s the start of the British flat turf season. As a heritage handicap, it attracts large fields, which in turn bring owners, stable staff, and jockeys.”
The Lincoln also paid tribute to six-time Brocklesby Stakes-winning trainer Bill Turner, who sadly passed away at the age of 78 last year, by renaming the race he was so closely associated with. It was unveiled as the ‘William Hill Bill Turner Memorial EBF Brocklesby Stakes’, with 15 horses taking part. Bill’s daughter, Kathy Turner, along with his family, was in attendance.
Reflecting on the tribute, Harwood added: “We are, of course, very grateful to William Hill for the opportunity to remember the most successful trainer in the history of the race.”
2026 marks a significant milestone for both Doncaster and the sport of racing, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the first running of the Betfred St Leger Stakes. First held in 1776 at Doncaster Racecourse, it remains the oldest of Britain’s five Classic races.
This added to the sense of occasion across the weekend, with a performance from the Upbeat Beatles on Lincoln Saturday, celebrating the race’s heritage since its move to Doncaster in 1965.
Following racing on Saturday, the Upbeat Beatles - dressed in vintage outfits - performed a 75-minute set of nostalgic 60s classics to an animated crowd.
Harwood added, “We don’t typically include entertainment, but to kick the season off with a bit of flair, we added post-racing entertainment. We chose the Beatles because their music is popular across generations, which created an electric atmosphere and memorable experience for our guests - something that’s key to encouraging them to return.”
Receiving the most visitors since pre-COVID, 4,811 people also attended the Family Fun Day on Lincoln Sunday, which tapped into the current K-Pop craze initiated by Netflix's Oscar-winning film K-Pop Demon Hunters, with live music throughout the day from K-pop tribute band K-POP Superstars.
In keeping with all Doncaster and ARC racedays, under-18s were admitted free of charge.
To view the full lineup of fixtures at Doncaster, please click here.
Image by Nigel Kirby Photography
