Stranded Stevens attends St Leger

American jockey Gary Stevens made an unscheduled appearance at Doncaster`s St Leger meeting today.

He is stranded in Britain due to the airline problems caused by Tuesday`s terrorist outrages in his own country and travelled up from London to watch the 225th running of the world`s oldest Classic - in which he finished third on board Adair two years ago.

Stevens explained: 'I came over on Monday to see my in-laws, strictly for a holiday, and I have no idea when I will be returning home - I have got my kit and you might see me at Goodwood on Wednesday!'

The rider admitted that it was hard to watch Tuesday`s events from this side of the Atlantic.

'It was very difficult,' he said. 'With all those fatalities it was like watching something unfold that was unreal.

I should have been riding at Belmont today but racing is very trivial to me at the moment.

'But the public support from the Brits has been amazing. I have been in London and when they played our national anthem atthe changing of the guard it touched me.

'People have really reached out and it has been very, very touching. The way the Brits have come to our aid and are standing shoulder to shoulder with us is a great feeling.'

Racing at Belmont Park in New York today and tomorrow has actually been called off due to the atrocities and Stevens is unsure whether the Breeders` Cup will go ahead at the same venue next month.

'I wouldn`t want to make a prediction,' he said. 'A lot of our horses were going to have a big try-out this weekend and I don`t know if they will be ready.

'And if there is retaliation I don`t know what will happen.'