Features

First Ever Lady Jockey's Championship is Launched

BRITAIN’S professional lady Flat Jockeys are to get their own championship!

The race for the new title – sponsored by information technology business Prolinx – begins on the opening day of the Flat racing season at Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 31 March.  It concludes at Doncaster too, on the final day of the season in November.
 
Prolinx is also sponsoring the ‘Lady Jockey of the Year’ award at this year’s Stobart Lesters on Thursday 5 April.
 
Paul Struthers, Chief Executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, said: “We are thrilled to be launching the first ever Ladies’ Jockeys Championship and delighted that Prolinx has agreed to be the sponsor.  This new championship reflects the progress that has been made by female Jockeys in recent years and their growing influence in the sport.”
 
Hayley Turner, Britain’s leading female Jockey who rode her first two Group 1 winners last year, said: “This is excellent news and it will create a great deal of interest – and make us even more competitive - in the ‘female’ Weighing Room.”
  
The championship is divided into three sections – gold, silver and bronze.  The gold award prize, for Jockeys riding over 30 winners during the season, is £5,000; the silver award (10-29 winners) £3,000; and the bronze award (1-9 winners) £1,000.
  
Lady jockeys for punters to follow
 
Nicole Nordblad at Kempton Park - profit x 59 in 20 races since 2011
Cathy Gannon at Chepstow - profit x 50 in 110 races since 2008
Amy Ryan at Hamilton Park - profit x 46 in 38 races since 2008
Hayley Turner at Newbury - profit x 44 in 72 races since 2008
 
Some contenders for the Championship
 
Hayley Turner: From Southwell in Nottinghamshire, Hayley was the first female Jockey to ride 100 winners in one season, won two Group 1 race winners in 2011 and been a captain in Ascot Racecourse’s Shergar Cup.
 
Cathy Gannon: From Dublin, Cathy enjoyed her best ever year in the saddle in 2011, with 71 winners, and is now returning to race-riding after breaking a leg in a fall last autumn.
 
Amy Ryan: From North Yorkshire, Amy – daughter of trainer Kevin Ryan – is a former Amateur Ladies’ Champion Jockey and has been professional since 2009.
 
Kelly Harrison: From North Yorkshire, Kelly rides out for Newmarket trainer William Haggas and her ambition is to ride a Group race winner.
 
Sophie Doyle: From Cambridge, Sophie was Champion Female Apprentice Jockey two years ago and rides most often for Lambourn trainer Jamie Osborne.
 
Leonna Mayor: From Stoke-on-Trent, Leonna is an Apprentice Jockey at Alastair Lidderdale’s yard in Lambourn and is targeting the Apprentice title.
 
Above Picture: Swedish Jockey Nicole Nordblad and her British counterpart Leonna Mayor are delighted with the new Prolinx Lady Jockeys’ Championship.