Mackay back in saddle for Leger Legends to give family a boost

Jamie Mackay is to come out of retirement to ride in the Leger Legends race at Doncaster next month as a tribute to his father Allan, who was paralysed from the chest down in a fall on the Newmarket gallops in the spring.

The former lightweight, whose brother Nicky was also injured in a fall at Chelmsford in March, will be following the same path as his father, who rode in the Town Moor event in 2012.

Mackay, now employed as a work-rider for Charlie Appleby, will be among four new faces in the 14-strong line-up for the straight mile contest, the others being Dara O'Donoghue, Ian Mongan and Brian Harding.

The four will line up against some familiar faces, including former winner George Duffield, who is once again out to strike a blow for the pensioners at the grand old age of 70.

The Leger Legends, which is in its eighth year, has become the highlight on the opening day of the four-day St Leger festival, which is this year on September 13.

Organiser Dale Gibson, who is also executive director of the PJA, said: "Jamie Mackay is riding specifically because of the injuries to Allan and Nicky.

"It's a great idea and he was very keen to ride when the idea came up. I know his dad rode in it a few years ago and hopefully he'll enjoy being back at the races again with his dad in attendance to cheer him on."

Familiar face: George Duffield will again be participating in the Lester Legends raceCredit: System

He added of the day: "When we first started the race I thought we'd get three years out of it and I never thought we'd be into our eighth having raised £780,000.

"As usual we will be raising funds for the Northern Racing College and Jack Berry House, which covers people getting into racing and also getting out of it."

Other popular fund raisers are the online and silent auctions.