Opulence Ladies Aiming For Royal Ascot
These days there’s little talk of ‘female’ jockeys or ‘female’ trainers.
Hollie Doyle, Hayley Turner, Rachael Blackmore, Bryony Frost and co. are for the main part simply ‘jockeys’, and the same applies amongst the training ranks to Lucinda Russell, Venetia Williams, Jane Chapple-Hyam (of which more in a moment) et al.
But it’s certainly not always been that way, and it’s worth reminding ourselves that until really quite recently horse racing’s glass ceiling was a pretty thick one, that took some hammering through, and even today it hasn’t disappeared entirely.
Saffie Osborne at the winner's post on PHOENIX PASSION for Opulence Thoroughbreds
Let’s go back: although Ellen Challoner – in whose memory the first race on 2000 Guineas day is staged – did oversee training stables in Newmarket as long ago as the 1880s, following the death of her husband Tom, that was only under special dispensation from The Jockey Club, the sport’s regulator then and right through until 2006.
And it’s pretty mind-boggling to think that it was not until well within living memory, 1966 to be precise, and only after years of campaigning, that The JC granted the first two trainer’s licences to women, to Florence Nagle and Norah Wilmot.
What an historic breakthrough, though Nagle, who’d actually been preparing horses for donkey’s years and running them under the names of male assistants, had been forced to take the authorities – metaphorically, kicking and screaming – all the way to the Court of Appeal where judges ordered a change in the regulations.
Practically straightaway Wilmot saddled a winner; appropriately, it was with a filly, called Pat, which was successful at Brighton that August.
AZURE ANGEL in the Ellen Chaloner Stakes, named after the pioneering first female trainer in Britain
It was not, however, for another six years that female jockeys were permitted to ride in races under Rules, with Meriel Tufnell the trailblazer, partnering Scorched Earth to win at Kempton in May 1972.
Still, however, there were hurdles to overcome, and it took changes in sex discrimination law to permit a woman, Charlotte Brew, to ride Barony Fort, her own horse, in the Grand National of 1977, the year that Red Rum – whose trainer Ginger McCain was not alone in opposing Brew’s participation – won on a so far unequalled third occasion.
Barony Fort was pulled up by his jockey at the fourth last of the thirty fences, but their participation was hugely significant, if ultimately overshadowed by Red Rum – Cheers, the mount of Geraldine Rees in 1982, goes down in the history books as the first runner ridden by a woman to complete the course.
All that said, there is more work to be done: in Britain, latest figures indicate that female professional jockeys – who, unlike in France where there is a weight allowance, compete on level terms with the opposite sex – make up just 14.8% of the weighing room.
"Female professional jockeys – who, unlike in France where there is a weight allowance, compete on level terms with the opposite sex – make up just 14.8% of the weighing room."
Around a quarter of trainers are women, though none on the flat are in the top twenty; the female representation in the sport’s office jobs could be higher; on-course crowds seem largely made up of men.
So, while things are unrecognisably more diverse and welcoming than they once were, the drum still needs beating; enter, stage centre, Opulence Ladies.
This is Opulence Thoroughbreds’ first all-female syndicate designed to promote women in racing and to do its bit to encourage a new audience – and have a whole lot of fun along the way.
A horse is already purchased and in training with Newmarket’s Group One race-winning, first lady, Jane Chapple-Hyam.
It’s a filly, a well-bred daughter of the highly-regarded stallion Calyx, out of a mare with loads of quality heritage, and she’s made such an immediate impact at C-H HQ that they’ve dubbed her “the Duchess”.
Plans are in place which involve the Duchess mixing with the King and Queen at Royal Ascot.
All details of this immensely exciting project, the latest to demonstrate how Opulence Thoroughbreds does things a little differently, can be obtained from Courtney Wyatt, courtney@opulencethoroughbreds.com
I can’t wait to see the Duchess – best of luck to all.
