Supple claims Doncaster legends race Willie Supple took the Leger Legends race at Doncaster on 12/1 shot Dana's Present in a dramatic finish to race. In front of a crowd that included Classic winning riders, Lester Piggott and Willie Carson, the race has become a fixture in the calendar and it saw one of the most dramatic finishes since its inception into an official race under the rules of racing. The veteran riders went a sensible pace under the conditions and there were many chances as they entered the final quarter of a mile. The eye was drawn to Pelmanism as Gay Kelleway produced the gelding with what appeared a perfectly timed run with just over a furlong to travel but the effect of the softening ground appeared all too apparent as he began to tire badly in sight of the post. Sensing their chance, Willie Supple and Jimmy McCarthy, two of the more recent retirees, kept their mounts up to their work and it was Dana's Present that was to prevail under Supple. The winning jockey said: "It was a good buzz to get back. "It's hard when you retire at first to know what to do, but it was good to get back and see the lads and I enjoyed it. "It was good to get the winner. I must thank Kevin Prendergast for keeping me fit by letting me ride out five mornings a week. "It's great to come back to Yorkshire. I lived just up the road in Dishforth for a while and the people here were always good. "I'm not sure how many winners I rode, over 1,500. "I had a lot of good days at places like Ascot and York and I was lucky enough to get on a few of Godolphin's horses. "I won the Lockinge for Godolphin on Fly To The Stars (1999) and Dubai was very good to me. "I thought I'd be third or fourth a furlong out. It wasn't until the last 50 yards the horse really got going. "It's a great day and for a great cause." A philosophical Kelleway told At The Races: "I was unlucky and mugged on the line. I thought I had the race in the bag." The judge could not seperate Pelmanism and Excellent Puck and declared a dead-heat for second.
