RACING NEWS:CHARLIE SWAN will return to defend his title when 16 retired stars of the weighing room take to the saddle at Doncaster's St Leger Festival for the second running of the Clipper Logistics Leger Legends Classified Stakes.
Swan took the contest last year and will be joined in the field this time by fellow Irish riders John Reid, Ray Cochrane and Norman Williamson.
Among the other riders are past stars of the flat and jump scenes. Classic-winning jockeys George Duffield, Ernie Johnson, and Kevin Darley, will ride alongside jump racing legends such as Graham Bradley and Steve Smith Eccles.
International representation comes this time thanks to US Hall Of Famer Julie Krone and former top French rider Thierry Gillet, who partnered Bago to win the 2004 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Krone, who turned down a slot on American prime-time TV series Survivor to ride at Doncaster, became the first woman to win a US Triple Crown race when successful on Colonial Affair in the 1993 Belmont Stakes.
Her only previous experience of race riding in Britain came at Redcar in July 1992 when she partnered three winners from five rides. Krone will be one of two female jockeys, the other being former rider-turned-trainer Gay Kelleway.
Meanwhile, Hayley Turner escaped serious injury following a nasty incident at Bath yesterday, where she was unseated on the way to the start of the Grange Free Servicing September grange.co.uk Handicap.
Turner was going to post aboard favourite Rose Aurora for Marcus Tregoning when the filly appeared to jink in front of the stands rail.
Thankfully, she did not need to go to hospital and after being assessed in the medical room on course, was cleared of serious injury. “She has been stood down for the rest of the day,” said clerk of the course Katie Stephens.
Britain’s leading female jockey has been enjoying the most successful spell of her career, riding her first two Group One winners on Dream Ahead in the July Cup and Margot Did in the Nunthorpe this season.
Kieren Fallon found his championship charge slightly frustrated as he had to settle for one winner and three seconds at Folkestone, as well as picking up a one-day ban.
Fallon began the day on 102 winners for the season, 13 behind leader and defending champion Paul Hanagan. The six-times title holder got off to the perfect start, as he guided 4 to 1 chance National Hope to victory in the opening Best Offers At JustBookies.com Handicap.
Fallon again had to settle for second as Red Current proved a shade too strong for his mount Dr Finley in the Free Bets At JustBookies.com Handicap. To add insult to injury, he was banned for one day (Sept 14th) for using his whip with excessive frequency.
