Julie Krone wins at St Leger Festival, Doncaster

Krone's first major victory was in 1987

Record-breaking US jockey Julie Krone came out of retirement to steal the show on the opening day of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster.

The 48-year-old won the Clipper Logistics Leger Legends charity race by three-and-a-half lengths on 4-1 favourite Invincible Hero.

Skyfire and Charlie Swan were second with George Duffield third on Dialogue.

Krone, the most successful ever female jockey, received a rapturous ovation from the crowd after her 3,705th win.

"[Riding] one time for such a long time is a little hard," she said, catching her breath. "I had a lot of horse, and I'm not really fit enough to take much [credit] from him. He took me all the way to the wire. What a great beast he was today."

In a glittering career Krone became the first woman jockey to win a leg of US racing's Triple Crown, and be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

She retired in 2004, and when organisers persuaded her to turn down the chance to take part in a reality TV programme at home to come to Doncaster, it was seen as a real coup for them.

Amongst those also returning to the saddle were former top jockeys Jamie Osborne, Ray Cochrane, Graham Bradley, Kevin Darley and Ernie Johnson.

The mile-long race was staged to raise money for an Injured Jockeys Fund project to construct a rehabilitation centre at Malton, North Yorkshire, and the Northern Racing College at Doncaster.

The day's most valuable race, the Scarborough Stakes, went to the Frankie Dettori-ridden Humidor (14-1) and represented the biggest success for trainer George Baker since moving to the historic Whitsbury racing stables near Fordingbridge, Hampshire.