Wow 2 Legends off to Doncaster!
The Clipper Logistics Legends Classified Stakes (3.40pm), run over Doncaster's straight mile on the opening day of the 2012 Ladbrokes St Leger, Wednesday, September 12, sees 16 legends return to the saddle in aid of Jack Berry House and the redevelopment of the Northern Racing College.
The race welcomes back American Hall Of Fame jockey Julie Krone, who won the contest last year. She rode 3,704 winners in America and is the only female rider to win a leg of the American Triple Crown after she captured the 1993 Belmont Stakes on Colonial Affair.
Multiple Irish champion jockey Mick Kinane, who won 24 English and Irish Classics, rounded off a career spanning over 30 years in 2009 after partnering Sea The Stars to six consecutive Group One victories. He comes into the race on the back of a impressive victory in a similar contest at Aintree in April.
Other notable names include former English champion jockey Kevin Darley, George Duffield and John Reid, all St Leger-winning jockeys.
The event has been organised by the Professional Jockeys' Association's Industry Liason Officer & Director Dale Gibson, who will also be riding in the race.
Gibson said: "The fundraising for this year's Clipper Logistics Legends Classified Stakes is going very well. It has been an ongoing project now for a couple of years and people have really taken to the idea.
"We have sold 450 seats for the lunch which is a sell out. We will raise a minimum of £100,000 and that is guaranteed already.
"It's hard to suggest what the final figure will be because we all have 'just giving' sites and some people get money on the day and others top up their accounts a few days afterwards.
"William Hill have kindly given us a couple of thousand quid already and they have always been the first to pay. We usually get contributions from all the major bookmakers.
"There is also an auction taking place on the day after the lunch and the items include Lester Piggott's first ever winning saddle from The Chase in 1948 and it's magnificent. I have seen it and it doesn't look 64 years old and it's authenticated by Wicks Saddlers in Lambourn.
"Lester Piggott will also be presenting the trophy to the winning jockey.
"There is a villa in Antigua up for grabs, Cup Final tickets for Wembley in 2013 and a box at Ascot, so there is some good stuff in the auction. There is also a walk-on part on Coronation Street.
"Princess Anne will be attending the lunch but she will not be there for the race because she has another appointment.
"The Reuben Foundation's representatives will be at the lunch and also sponsor Julie Krone.
"The mayor of Doncaster will be there and a various cross section of other people. This is what the day is all about, it's about people in racing helping two racing causes, and I'm going to say it because I'm in the north, north of London. Most of these things seem to be in London or are southern-based and it's very nice to have something happening in the north, for the north.
"There has been so many helpful individuals - Doncaster has been very helpful and the BHA has been superb with all the medical and licensing side to it because obviously we (jockeys) are all getting a little bit older.
"The jockeys have been helpful too. Mick Kinane said yes straightaway when I asked him to come over, Julie Krone did the same as well and I think George Duffield is going to ride until he's 96!
"The jockeys have really embraced the concept and there has been plenty of banter already and I'm sure there will be more in the weighing room on the day.
"The money is going towards the Jack Berry House which is another part of the IJF and will be built next year in Malton. Funding will also be given for the redevelopment of the Northern Racing College.
"It's fabulous that Julie Krone is coming back again. She is a real live wire and by god she can ride. There is a journalist coming over with her from America and that will be brilliant as it will give us a lot of coverage over there.
"It's very sad to hear John Oaksey passed away but I'm not sure if there will be a tribute on the day as we haven't got quite as far as that yet, but black armbands will be worn by all the jockeys at all the tracks on Saturday and there will be a minute's silence.
"Whether it continues to next Wednesday, I don't know as I haven't spoken to Doncaster yet and it's possible Chicky Oaksey and the IJF might not want to because it's a few additional days after the respect paid to him on Saturday."
The full list of riders in the Clipper Logistics Legends Classified Stakes is: Gary Bardwell, Tony Clark, Nicky Connorton, Kevin Darley, George Duffield, Dale Gibson, Luke Harvey, Gay Kelleway, Mick Kinane, Julie Krone, Allan Mackay, Tom O'Ryan, Jamie Osborne, Ollie Pears, John Reid and Willie Ryan. Alan McCabe is a reserve.
Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/
The opening day of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival also features the £40,000 Listed Scarbrough Stakes (3.05pm) over five furlongs. The contest for two-year-olds and upwards has attracted 26 entries including Group One winner Kingsgate Native, who could have his first start for Newmarket trainer Robert Cowell.
The racing gets underway at 2.00pm with the £15,000 Arena Structures Nursery (29 entries) over seven furlongs and is followed by the £15,000 Napoleon Casinos & Restaurant Conditions Race (2.30pm, 17 entries) over six furlongs.
The longest race on the card is the £20,000 Kat Communications Knowledge About Telecoms Conditions Stakes (4.10pm, 17 entries) over a mile and a quarter and may see the return of Godolphin's exciting three-year-old Swedish Sailor.
The penultimate race is the Elements Medispa Handicap (4.45pm, 24 entries) and the action concludes at 5.15pm with the BJS Handicap (43 entries).
The Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster runs from Wednesday, September 12, through to Saturday, September 15. For more information go to www.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk
GOING
The going at Doncaster is currently: Good, Good to Firm in places
Clerk of the Course Jon Pullin reported today: "It has been a dry and warm week so far and the going is Good, Good to Firm in places.
"The forecast for next week is for more unsettled conditions and cooler temperatures.
"I would say at this stage there is every chance that we will need to water."
For further information, please contact:
Kate Hills
Director of PR & Communications
ARC Arena Racing Company
Tel: 07813 947201
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