Horse_amp_amp_Hound__06_February_2018

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HORSES
IN THE NEWS
Here come the girls:
ladies ‘as good as men’
New research shows that female jockeys are just as good as
their male counterparts, although they get fewer rides
SMAD PLACE
The 2015 Hennessy Gold Cup
winner has been retired aged
11 due to injury. The Alan
King-trained grey gelding
won nine of his 37 races and
earned almost £500,000 in
prize money, gaining his final
victory in the Old Roan Chase
at Aintree last October.
BILLY LIFFY
The four-star eventer
produced by Britain’s Olivia
Craddock has joined Sam
Griffiths’ string. “It’s an
exciting time for me and his
new owners, Claudia and
Jonathan Rothermere,” said
the Australian rider.
MARCEL
The first colt by the Grade
One-winning two-year-old
has been born at Martin
Walsh’s Kiltown Stud. Marcel,
now five, was one of the
top three European colts of
his generation. His owner
Paul Makin bred the bay out
of Visalia, the daughter of
Virginia Waters.
WATCH out boys — research has
found that female jockeys are just
as good as their male rivals.
While the study’s finding is
not a surprise to many, there are
hopes this evidence will help open
up more opportunities for women.
Vanessa Cashmore analysed
14 years of data while studying
for her masters in thoroughbred
horseracing industries at the
University of Liverpool. She
found that when horse quality is
considered, women riders were
“every bit as good” as men.
Only 11.3% of professional
jockey licences are held by
women, who took just 5.2% of
available rides during those 14
years. But women make up 51% of
the sport’s stable staff workforce,
up from 42% since 2010. Women
also make up 24% of all jockeys
holding a licence — the same
percentage as 10 years ago.
Leading Flat jockey Hollie
Doyle told H&H the research is
useful proof that women can get
“just as much” out of a horse.
“It isn’t just about power and
strength — obviously that’s an
advantage men have — but you
have to be tactically switched on
and a good horseman,” said Hollie,
who has ridden more than 100
winners. “In racing, regardless of
gender, it’s really hard to get going
and to get rides and winners; it
takes a lot of hard work.”
Hollie said she has never felt at
a disadvantage as she is a woman.
“If you’re in fashion; riding
By LUCY ELDER
winners and riding well, whoever
you are you’ll do well,” she said.
British Horseracing Authority
(BHA) chief executive Nick
Rust added the organisation is
“determined to address” why
women get fewer rides than men,
particularly in high-profile races.
“We are proud British racing is
one of the few sports where men
and women can compete on equal
terms,” he said. “But if female
jockeys are not being given the
same opportunities as men, this
cannot be considered equality.”
He added the BHA is looking
at “any short- and long-term steps
that must be taken to improve
equal opportunities”.
Day change for Nations Cup
BRITAIN’S Nations Cup leg at
Hickstead’s Royal International
Horse Show is to move from its
usual Friday to the show’s final
day (Sunday).
The move to a weekend day is
part of the FEI’s efforts to keep
the series as “the best possible
product”; of all the CSI5* Nations
Cup competitions, only Dublin’s
Aga Khan trophy will retain its
original slot on the Friday.
The rejigging of the schedule
for Hickstead’s five-star event
Gemma Tutty has ridden nearly 50 winners
(25-29 July) comes as the show
also takes on a new name, the
Longines FEI Jumping Nations
Cup of Great Britain at the BHS
Royal International Horse Show.
The show said the move
reflects “the importance of this
showcase class and the long-term
relationship with series title
partner Longines”.
“The Hickstead leg gives
showjumping fans their only
opportunity to watch the Brits
compete as a team on home turf,
Apprentice Gemma Tutty, who
has ridden nearly 50 winners and
is balancing riding with studying
for a degree in psychology and
counselling, told H&H she was
interested horse quality was taken
into account. She wants trainers
to remain free to choose who they
want, without rules or penalties,
but hopes widespread opinions
can move to regard male and
female jockeys on a level.
“I have seen a lot of girls retire
through lack of opportunities
when there will be a lad riding to
the same standard and he has had
opportunities,” said Gemma.
“Not all lads get opportunities
either, but the fact some
trainers won’t use girls puts us
at a disadvantage, even if some
trainers use them all the time.”
and we hope the move from Friday
to Sunday will give even more
people the chance to cheer on
their home nation,” said Hickstead
director Lizzie Bunn.
The King George V Gold Cup
will now take place on the Friday.
After a year of competing in
division two, the Brits are back in
the top Nations Cup league and
will be campaigning to retain their
place and qualify for the final in
Barcelona in October. SR
● Comment, p59
Pictures by RacingFotos.com, Peter Nixon and PA Wire/PA Images
6 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018