21.7 C
New York
Sunday, October 6, 2024
No menu items!

Female jockeys win every event at Moree Cup as women dominate racing apprenticeships

Apprentice jockey Mollie Fitzgerald grew up around race tracks, and used to think horse racing was a man’s world.

But she is the first to admit that is no longer the case in what used to be known as “the sport of kings”.

“When I was younger and I’d come to races with Dad, there wasn’t as many female jockeys,” she said.

“I definitely can see a shift, over the years there’s a lot more female apprentices coming through, there’s definitely a lot more women in racing now.”

Her perception is backed up by statistics from Racing NSW, which show that in September 2024, 50 of the state’s 73 apprentice jockeys were women.

In the 2023/24 season there were also 25 female riders who won 10 or more races. 

Female jockeys win every event at Moree Cup as women dominate racing apprenticeships

Moree Race Club joins the history books with all female winners at its recent cup day. (Supplied: Moree Race Club)

Executive officer of the Team Thoroughbred NSW Training Academy, Stuart Rich, said it was not just on the track where young women were making their mark.

“We’ve got an intake of around about 75 per cent women coming into the industry, whether it be stable hands, track riders or our apprentice jockeys,” he said.

“It’s not surprising at all because there’s just so many great female jockeys out there at the moment plying their trade.”

For Fitzgerald, being a jockey is a dream come true.

“You can ride as many as 10 different horses in one day and I love getting to know different horses and creating a relationship with them,” she said.

“I also think it’s amazing that I can call it a job.”

Making racing history

Fitzgerald was one of eight history-making jockeys at the Moree Cup Race Day in September, where for the first time all eight races were won by women. 

The Moree Race Club took to social media to celebrate, posting “history was made today”.

Fitzgerald said the energy and excitement built throughout the day.

“We had a little bit of an ongoing joke all day, as the races kept going through we kept saying, ‘Oh the girls are winning all the races’, and we just kept hinting it’d be cool if we could ride the card,” she said.

“On a normal day of racing, it’s scattered between the girls and the boys.

“But I think it will hopefully happen more often [that] the girls are riding the card, which is pretty cool.” 

A team of equestrians hold a trophy and banner as they smile into the camera.

All eight races of the Moree Cup were won by women for the first time. (Supplied: Moree Race Club)

Fitzgerald said she was excited for the future of racing, and hoped more young women would come through the ranks.

“We only have to look at the apprentices coming through, there’s a lot more girls than boys, ” she said.

“I think it’s great, it’s becoming a lot more equal.

“It has really been a male-dominated sport, so we have our past female jockeys to thank for the hard work they’ve done in paving the way for us.”

Trainer Gai Waterhouse and Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne stand at Flemington racecourse with the Melbourne Cup.

Trainer Gai Waterhouse AM and Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne have been leaders for women in racing. (AAP: Luis Ascui)

On a national stage Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne is considered a trailblazer for female jockeys, while Victorian jockey Jamie Kah is currently one of Australia’s top riders.

Scone-based race horse trainer Brett Cavanough has one female apprentice jockey on his team and two female assistant trainers.

He said there would not be an industry without women, and the perception that female jockeys were not strong enough was changing.

“They’re as strong as anyone and a lot of the girls get stronger with experience and age,” Mr Cavanough said.

“Those girls ride as good as the boys … if we took all the women out of racing at the moment that are working, we wouldn’t have racing.”

A man in a suit stands with his arms crossed, smiling.

Brett Cavanough says he values women on his racing team. (Facebook: Scone Race Club)

Careers on offer

Mr Rich said there were many career pathways offered by the thoroughbred racing industry that attracted women.

“We’ve got everything from licensing, to handicapping to stewards, the training department, to marketing and finance,” he said.

“We hosted a career day at Newcastle, there were 20 kids and 19 of them where female.”

A female jockey talks to a journalist with her red helmet on and a TV camera films her.

Mollie Fitzgerald says it is special to stand alongside all female winners. (Supplied: Moree Race Club)

For Mollie Fitzgerald, that historic race weekend in Moree will be one she will not forget.

“It’s pretty amazing, it’ll be something in years to come that I will be able to look back and reflect on,” she said.

“It might inspire more girls to get into racing as well, it was really special to be a part of.” 

Source link

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Stay Connected

0FansLike
0FollowersFollow
0SubscribersSubscribe

Latest Articles