'Greatest jockey' back in the saddle

He recalls the occasion when a jockey suffered a heavy fall at Wye, the now defunct racecourse in Kent. "He was thrown over the running rail onto the inside of the course, and had fallen across an electric fence put there to keep the sheep in," recalls Francome, the top Channel Four pundit.

"Every two seconds, he was giving a horrible twitch as another burst of current passed through the body. Two other jockeys who had fallen at the fence, and a St John Ambulance man pulled him off the wire – carefully timing their efforts so that they too didn't get a shock - and he came round and was more or less all right. Just a broken collar-bone."

Yet Francome's point is a serious one. There is no other sport, he believes, that looks after its own better than horse racing. "Far more so than football or rugby," he maintains. And, compared to his racing era when jockeys were largely self-taught, there have never been better facilities to help the racing fraternity.

It is why the former champion jockey and one-time junior show-jumper, who is still revered for his association 30 years ago with the great Yorkshire hurdler Sea Pigeon, is among those coming out of retirement next month for the inaugural Leger Legends Race on the first day of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster.

Proceeds will be split between additional facilities at the Northern Racing College and 'The House That Jack Built' – former trainer Jack Berry's aspiration to build an Injured Jockeys' Fund facility in the county to help injured and retired riders.

It promises to be a fiercely competitive one-mile race and those intending to don their breeches once more include the likes of Kevin Darley, Tony Dobbin, George Duffield, Pat Eddery, Steve Smith-Eccles, Jamie Osborne and Charlie Swan, the man who guided the mighty Istrabraq to a hat-trick of Champion Hurdle triumphs.

Lending his considerable support to the September 8 charity race will be the incomparable Lester Piggott; evidently the 74-year-old has let it be known that he does not wish to show up the celebrated cast list of jockeys by returning to the saddle.

Francome said he did not have to think twice about accepting his invitation. He rides out every day for Clive Cox, the top Flat trainer who rents stables on land owned by the man affectionately referred to as 'Greatest Jockey' on Channel Four.

"I think my weight will be okay, probably better than some," said the jockey.

"There will be a few different shapes and sizes, and a few very extra large breeches required. But, seriously, I'd do anything for Jack. What he, and the Injured Jockeys' Fund, have done over the years is nothing short of inspirational.

"A facility in the North would be a huge asset and Jack will make sure that it happens. Racing looks after its own like no other sport, whenever there's a fund-raiser, or a lad is injured, the jockeys are helping out – whether it be sponsorship or hospital visits. You don't get that in football or rugby."

Francome is also delighted to be putting his riding reputation on the line to help raise funds for the Northern Racing College which is already producing champions of the future.

"The great thing is that youngsters with no riding experience whatsoever can learn alongside those who come from a riding or pony racing background and who need to get the necessary qualifications," explained Francome.

"They can see what they can aspire to; what it takes to be the next Rhys Flint over the jumps, last season's champion conditional, or William Buick on the Flat. Both are talented and will go a long way; they are racing's future."

It doesn't require a vivid imagination to appreciate Flint and Buick's growing prowess – but it does to unravel Francome's latest thriller that revolves around the discovery of an antique dealer's body 15ft up a tree by the gallops of a top trainer. His many fans in these parts will be pleased to learn that the racing action revolves around York.

John Francome is the author of Storm Rider, published this week by Headline (18.99).

TOMORROW'S BEST

DUKE'S DOUBLE

Urban Space (4.00 Windsor), nap and Ishbelle (3.30 Windsor).

DUKE'S TREBLE

Urban Space, Ishbelle and Green For Luck (3.10 Redcar).

JULIUS'S DOUBLE

Ertikaan (3.20 Leicester), nap and Gojeri (4.20 Leicester).

FORMNAP

Fame And Glory (2.45 Curragh).