You have to be good to make it as a male jockey, but of exceptionally high ability as a female to stand out and be given the opportunities, suggests stable hand for trainer Charlie Mann, Chrissie Barnard.

“I think you have to have a gift, and you have to be a terribly good rider to make it as a female, stay focused and really want to do it,” says Chrisse.

“No claim”

Racehorse owner Paul Duffy suggests women are at even more of a disadvantage once they have ridden a certain number of winners and thus do not claim a weight allowance anymore. “Owners and trainers are more reluctant to book them for their mounts as they no longer hold any advantage over the men,” said Paul.

After losing their weight advantage its not only bad news for the women, several male jockeys also fall under the competitive margin and are driven away from the track by up and coming apprentices.

Chrissie said: “You’ve got to be exceptional as a female to get the opportunities; once you’ve lost your claim it’s a whole different ball game.”

However she also suggested that if you are good enough you will get the horses to ride despite having no weight allowance. “They may indeed find it more difficult to get the mounts when they have lost their claim, but if they are good enough they will.”

“Riding do the talking”

Echoing this view was Flat jockey, Hayley Turner. “If you let your riding do the talking people will see that you are good enough and will give you the opportunities,” she said.

But there are just not many women jockeys that are good enough suggests racehorse owner Dan Hussey. “They can have the same start in racing as men do, but the majority just are not good enough to ride through their claims and make it, or even if they do lose their claims to then go on and make it after this.”