Posted on 14th September 2018
We did it! The Leger Legends charity event, which kicked off the William Hill St Leger Festival for the ninth year on Wednesday 12 September, passed the million-pound mark for funds raised for the National Horseracing College and Injured Jockeys Fund.
While recently-retired, Classic-winning jockey Ted Durcan produced Central City with a late run to win the Clipper Logistics Leger Legends Classified Stakes over a mile, the man of the moment at the fundraising lunch was Jack Berry, who auctioned one of his famous red shirts to take the grand total to £1 million.
This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the support of so many people, in particular, Steve Parkin and his Clipper Logistics Group, the race sponsors for the past eight years.
The Reuben Foundation and Doncaster Racecourse continued their valuable and significant support with prize-money well above the norm to ensure 16 horses and jockeys went to post.
Durcan was one of six new names among the jockeys this year, along with Amy Ryan, Barry Keniry, Timmy Murphy, Willie Twiston-Davies and Andrew Thornton. They took the number of jockeys who have participated over the years to 58.
More than 50 retired jockeys, including arguably the greatest Flat and jump jockeys in the history of racing, Lester Piggott and Sir AP McCoy, were among the guests at Doncaster.
On the subject of retirement, a number of Leger Legends Committee members are retiring this year – Jack Berry himself, Diana Pyper, Patti Crook, Dale Gibson, Mike Goodfellow and Tim Adams.
We thank them, and everyone who has contributed to the success of the event, for their continued support.
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