Eldar Eldarov wins St Leger as racing honours Queen Elizabeth II at Doncaster

Racing returned to Town Moor on Sunday following a two-day pause of the St Leger Festival and was preceded by a moving tribute to the Queen, two-minute silence and rendition of the national anthem.

A rescheduled nine-race card also saw jockeys wear black armbands.

The Queen, a leading racehorse owner and breeder, won the St Leger in her silver jubilee year of 1977 with homebred filly Dumfermline.

Eldar Eldarov, a 9/2 shot, finished strongly to earn a first Classic win for jockey David Egan. Favourite New London finished second with Giavellotto in third.

Heskoy, ridden by Frankie Dettori, had crossed the line in second but was demoted to fourth following a stewards’ inquiry for causing interference.

Dettori, who rode over 50 winners for the Queen, had won two races earlier in the day but refused to do his famous celebratory flying dismount as a mark of respect.

Roger Varian, Eldar Eldarov’s trainer, told ITV: “As happy as we are, we are of course thinking of the Queen. It's been a tough week for the Royal Family, our thoughts are with them.

“Our thoughts are with the De Bromhead family. It's been a tough week for racing but horses always give you a reason to look forward.”

Egan dedicated his victory to Jack De Bromhead, the 13-year-old son of trainer Harry De Bromhead, who died in a pony racing accident in Ireland last weekend.

"These Classics are fantastic,” said Egan. “I'm obviously very sad for Her Majesty.

"It's a week today since Jack de Bromhead passed. He was the first person I thought about when I crossed the line. That was for him."

St Leger to be run on Sunday from next year as Doncaster race bosses announce overhaul