Apprentice jockey Mollie Fitzgerald grew up round race tracks, and used to suppose horse racing was a person’s world.
However she is the primary to confess that’s not the case in what was referred to as “the game of kings”.
“Once I was youthful and I might come to races with Dad, there wasn’t as many feminine jockeys,” she mentioned.
“I undoubtedly can see a shift, through the years there’s much more feminine apprentices coming by, there’s undoubtedly much more girls in racing now.”
Her notion is backed up by statistics from Racing NSW, which present that in September 2024, 50 of the state’s 73 apprentice jockeys have been girls.
Within the 2023/24 season there have been additionally 25 feminine riders who gained 10 or extra races.
Moree Race Membership joins the historical past books with all feminine winners at its latest cup day. (Provided: Moree Race Membership)
Government officer of the Group Thoroughbred NSW Coaching Academy, Stuart Wealthy, mentioned it was not simply on the observe the place younger girls have been making their mark.
“We have an consumption of round about 75 per cent girls coming into the trade, whether or not or not it’s steady arms, observe riders or our apprentice jockeys,” he mentioned.
“It isn’t shocking in any respect as a result of there’s simply so many nice feminine jockeys on the market in the meanwhile plying their commerce.”
For Fitzgerald, being a jockey is a dream come true.
“You may trip as many as 10 completely different horses in someday and I like attending to know completely different horses and making a relationship with them,” she mentioned.
“I additionally suppose it is superb that I can name it a job.”
Making racing historical past
Fitzgerald was considered one of eight history-making jockeys on the Moree Cup Race Day in September, the place for the primary time all eight races have been gained by girls.
The Moree Race Membership took to social media to have fun, posting “historical past was made at the moment”.
Fitzgerald mentioned the power and pleasure constructed all through the day.
“We had somewhat little bit of an ongoing joke all day, because the races stored going by we stored saying, ‘Oh the women are profitable all of the races’, and we simply stored hinting it might be cool if we might trip the cardboard,” she mentioned.
“On a traditional day of racing, it is scattered between the women and the boys.
“However I believe it’s going to hopefully occur extra usually [that] the women are using the cardboard, which is fairly cool.”
All eight races of the Moree Cup have been gained by girls for the primary time. (Provided: Moree Race Membership)
Fitzgerald mentioned she was excited for the way forward for racing, and hoped extra younger girls would come by the ranks.
“We solely have to take a look at the apprentices coming by, there’s much more ladies than boys, ” she mentioned.
“I believe it is nice, it is changing into much more equal.
“It has actually been a male-dominated sport, so we now have our previous feminine jockeys to thank for the arduous work they’ve performed in paving the way in which for us.”
Coach Gai Waterhouse AM and Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne have been leaders for ladies in racing. (AAP: Luis Ascui)
On a nationwide stage Melbourne Cup profitable jockey Michelle Payne is taken into account a trailblazer for feminine jockeys, whereas Victorian jockey Jamie Kah is presently considered one of Australia’s prime riders.
Scone-based race horse coach Brett Cavanough has one feminine apprentice jockey on his staff and two feminine assistant trainers.
He mentioned there wouldn’t be an trade with out girls, and the notion that feminine jockeys weren’t robust sufficient was altering.
“They’re as robust as anybody and plenty of the women get stronger with expertise and age,” Mr Cavanough mentioned.
“These ladies trip pretty much as good because the boys … if we took all the ladies out of racing in the meanwhile which might be working, we would not have racing.”
Brett Cavanough says he values girls on his racing staff. (Fb: Scone Race Membership)
Careers on provide
Mr Wealthy mentioned there have been many profession pathways provided by the thoroughbred racing trade that attracted girls.
“We have every thing from licensing, to handicapping to stewards, the coaching division, to advertising and finance,” he mentioned.
“We hosted a profession day at Newcastle, there have been 20 children and 19 of them the place feminine.”
Mollie Fitzgerald says it’s particular to face alongside all feminine winners. (Provided: Moree Race Membership)
For Mollie Fitzgerald, that historic race weekend in Moree shall be one she is not going to overlook.
“It is fairly superb, it will be one thing in years to return that I can look again and replicate on,” she mentioned.
“It would encourage extra ladies to get into racing as properly, it was actually particular to be part of.”
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