The world's most successful female jockey is flying into Britain from the United States to take part in the star-studded 'Leger Legends' race at Doncaster Racecourse as part of the St Leger Festival 2011.
There is a truly international flavour to this year's race on Wednesday afternoon (7 September) when some of the most successful riders from both codes of horseracing will pull on their silks one more time.
Julie Krone, now retired, joins 15 other former stars of the saddle who won 20,000 races between them at the meeting that reaches a climax with the St Leger, the final Classic of the British horseracing season.
Such is her enthusiasm to take part that the American Hall of Fame rider, who won over 3,700 races, turned down a chance to appear in Survivor, America's equivalent of I'm A Celebrity…Get Me out of Here.
Alongside her is former French jockey Thierry Gillet, who won the 2004 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – Europe's richest horserace.
The 16 stars also include Gay Kelleway, the first woman to ride a winner a Royal Ascot, and 2000 Flat racing champion Kevin Darley, plus jump racing heroes Norman Williamson and Charlie Swan who won the inaugural 'Leger Legends' race 12 months ago. Aged 64, George Duffield is the most senior 'legend'.
Lining up too – and race riding for the first time since the plane crash which ended his riding career – is former Derby-winning jockey Ray Cochrane. The accident at Newmarket in 2000 also seriously injured Frankie Dettori and claimed the life of the pilot.
The 'Leger Legends' race over one mile is in aid of two charities – the Injured Jockeys Fund's 'House That Jack Built' initiative and the Northern Racing College student accommodation project.
The 'Leger Legends' race is at 3.45pm on Wednesday 7 September. For more information, visit www.lovetheraces.com.
Allison is the Publisher of Eclipse Magazine. She loves going to the Races and is learning to bet (despite being officially the worst bettor in the History of the Universe), there’s a lot more to learn…