A no brainer
Women are not aspiring to become jockeys because they are not as competitive as males, according to a horseracing stable hand.
Claire Marshall, stable hand for trainer Clive Cox, said: “For men becoming a jockey is a big ego thing; it is a big competition at being the best.
“Jockey’s don’t believe that the stable hands are as good as them, which is why many male stable hands aspire to be jockeys because they do not want to be looked down upon by others, they want to be the best,” she added.
The suggestion a females mind may work differently than that of a male is not an unheard of idea and is commonly talked about in the science of psychology. For some, however, it is a ridiculous suggestion.
Retired jump jockey, Victoria Roberts said, “We are just as competitive as males it’s not our psychology that is wrong, or our psychology that people can’t deal with, it’s our physiology that’s the problem.”
And with women leading other equestrian fields such as three-day-eventing, again another competitive sport, this may validate her point.
"Kim Bailey's racing yard"
(VIDEO) Female stable hands are treated differently within racing yards, say staff in the industry.
"It's a strength issue"
Within racing, women are faced with this real and fair debate; whether they can ride a racing finish as well as a man who, as science has proved is physically stronger..
"Riding around in circles"
Going around a track is the usual course, perhaps more fitting to say around in circles for women.
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"Falling short"
The shortage of successful female jockeys may put many young girls off making a career in the saddle.
"Success in flats not heels"
Women are given more opportunities on the flat, one reason proposed for this is that women can now do the low weights better than males.
"Two can play that game"
It used to be said women couldn't stand up to Three-Day-Eventing. Now they are beating the men regularly and actually leading this field.
- Hayley Turner weighing in.jpg)
"Good as a male, exceptional as a female"
A shared opinion amongst people in the racing industry is that 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.
"Equality in the workplace"
Female stable hands are treated differently within racing yards, say staff in the industry.