Former champion jockey Seb Sanders is making an emotional return to race riding in Wednesday’s Leger Legends charity contest in honour of the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) after they helped him off “rock-bottom”.
Sanders, 50, last made an appearance in the saddle in 2016, retiring nine years after finishing as joint-winner of the Flat jockeys’ title with Jamie Spencer.
The popular Sky Sports Racing pundit, who also now operates as a work rider for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby in Newmarket, sought the assistance of the IJF earlier this year after his wife was hospitalised with a neurological disorder, further complicated by a Covid diagnosis.
Sanders will make his first appearance in the annual charity race on the opening day of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival, featuring alongside the likes of Grand National winner Sam Waley-Cohen and Kieren Fallon.
Explaining his motivation for signing up, Sanders told Sky Sports Racing: “The IJF [Injured Jockeys’ Fund] have got a really important place in my heart. If they ask me to do anything, I’ll do as much as I can.