Magical memories of the Leger for Carson – but there was one that got away

It may be 49 years since Dunfermline gave Queen Elizabeth II glory in the St Leger, but memories of the most regal of Doncaster victories remain as clear as ever for Willie Carson.

The decorated Scot was no stranger to success in Town Moor's most famous race, but it is the first of his three victories in the world's oldest Classic – when adorned in the royal silks – which has become a permanent fixture in racing folklore.

Amidst Silver Jubilee celebrations of 1977, it was the last of six Classics for the late Queen and a win for Carson that catapulted him into the upper echelons of the weighing room, as Dunfermline supplemented Oaks success at Epsom by taking down Alleged in South Yorkshire.

Carson told the Press Association: “It was Silver Jubilee year and it was my first year riding for Major Dick Hern and also for the Queen, which was always a bit special.

“It was the only time Alleged was beaten which made it a very special day. I think people remember it because we beat Alleged, he was a good horse and he won the Arc twice.

“The Queen was in Balmoral and I spoke to her after the race on the telephone. She wasn't a person who got overly excited, well obviously she did, but she was the Queen!

“It was a big year, 1977. I ended up with a couple of Classics and that propelled me into the top league as I don't think I was regarded as a top jockey until that year.”

Six years later it was the turn of the somewhat ironically named Sun Princess to follow in the footsteps of Dunfermline and provide Carson with a second St Leger on a dark, damp day in Doncaster.

It was perhaps the Classic triumph that might not have been but for Carson's skills of persuasion, with the exceptional filly's participation at one stage hanging on a knife edge.

Carson explained: “It was wet! I rode for Mick Easterby in the first race and clipped heels and nearly went down and her owner Arnold Weinstock (of Ballymacoll Stud) got all excited about nearly losing his jockey!

“With it raining the ground was on the soft side and Arnold Weinstock was basically not for running.

“Normally you don't meet the owner until just before the race, but he came to see me after the first and wanted to know what my thoughts were on the ground.

“Myself and Dick Hern wanted to run and Arnold did not want to as his lifetime ambition was to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and he didn't want to jeopardise her Arc chances in the St Leger.

“We convinced him it would be all right for her and we went round the middle of the track for the better ground and of course she won.”

Like Dunfermline, Sun Princess was supplementing Classic honours already secured at Epsom earlier in the summer when triumphing in the Doncaster gloom. And for Carson there was never any doubt about an exceptional talent who in 1983 ruled the roost in more ways than one.

“She was basically the best filly I ever rode,” he added. “I only rode her the once at home, but she was a bolter and she only ever had two speeds – walk or flat out.

“I remember in the Oaks I went to the front five out and it was because I couldn't hold on to her any longer. My arms seemed to be six inches longer than at the start of race – she was that type of filly – she had so much ability, but we were always up against her wanting to do it her way.

“She was an exceptional filly and if she wasn't so anti-government she would be an Enable-type animal.”

Carson's third and final St Leger success in 1988 would also see him enter racing's ancient record books as Minster Son helped his jockey achieve something that has not been repeated.

“In the whole of British racing history I'm the only person to breed and then ride the same horse to win a Classic,” said Carson, who rode 17 British Classic winners in his decorated career.

“It gives me plenty of pride of course, racing has been going for hundreds of years and it has only been done once and by me and it's nice.”

However, for all the moments of glory, Carson still rues the St Leger he feels slipped away, as Niniski – a son of Triple Crown hero Nijinsky – was seeking his own slice of racing history in 1979.

“The worst moment of my career was being beaten on Niniski, I went too soon,” said Carson.

“It's the one I remember as he should have won all three St Legers and was a lovely little horse. He should have won at Doncaster, but it was jockey error.

“I didn't make too many mistakes in Classics, but I definitely made one there.”

Now with Doncaster celebrating 250 years of the staying showpiece, Carson is eager to see the great race with which his name will always be indelibly linked return to the stature in which it was once held.

“It's not the race it was when I was a boy and everyone used to get really excited about the St Leger,” continued the 83-year-old.

“We would always say the last horse home in the St Leger would have snow in its tail, meaning winter is on its way.

“Nowadays people don't want Leger winners to be a stallion, but I'm not sure they are right about that. It's the sales ring that is in charge, but hopefully it will turn back.

“Good middle-distance horses have class that sprinters often lack, yes they have speed but they don't have the class.”