Congratulations to Imogen who enjoyed a first career winning ride at Leicester in 31 degree heat on Wednesday evening 24 July when partnering WINKLEMANN for John Flint. Owned by her father and trained by John Flint, Winklemann was slowly into stride in this 7 furlong sprint but responded to Imogen’s urgings to make headway a furlong from home through the 15 runner field, running on well to deny Sarah Bowen and CHETAN by a length with Nathan McCann and CONFRERE a further 2 1/2 lengths 3rd.
It was excellent to see Imogen ride her first winner, particularly after her dramatic first ever ride at Chelmsford last December, again on Winklemann, when her weight cloth slipped off a furlong from the start. Imogen won easily but was subsequently disqualified and this win at Leicester firmly put that memory to bed. Well done Imogen!
What a dramatic weekend in the USA with racing cancelled at both Parx (Philadelphia) and Laurel Park due to 38C heat! Thanks to some serious hard work and cooler temperatures (32 degrees!), Parx was rescheduled for today Monday (original plans having been for Delaware) and news is just in that its a WINNER for GB!
Many congratulations to Pat Millman on a great ride to fly at the finish and get up on the line in a three horse photo!
Well done Pat and massive thanks to Don Yovanovich for all of his dedication and hard work to make this raceday happen in the most difficult of circumstances.🥂🇬🇧🥂🇺🇸🥂❤️
Alyson Deniel is no stranger to winning on Arabian horses internationally, having enjoyed success in the second race of 2014 of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship held at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia (below).
A bit closer to home, another winning ride was enjoyed by Aly recently when representing the UK in Romania on 6th July at the Hippodrome Ploiesti near Bucharest.
Many congratulations to Aly who now looks forward to the finale to be held in Abu Dhabi on 24th November, when all winning riders will participate.
Many thanks to Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairperson of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA), Chairperson of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR), for giving our lady riders such unique opportunities
Congratulations to Matt Ennis on a great ride when winning the first of this year’s AJA Novice Flat Amateur Riders races at Catterick on 17th July aboard Ruth Carr’s course specialist BE PERFECT. Holding his horse up until making steady headway from about half a mile out, the partnership stayed on well to score by 3 lengths from Joey Dunne and Gavin Cromwell’s SHEILA’S EMPIRE with Joshua Scott and OROBAS 3rd.
Congratulations also to Emily Bullock who led up the winner and won Best Turned Out!
Many thanks to Kim Tinkler, BHA Jockey Coach, for sharing her expertise and conducting the course walk and jockey de-brief. Thanks also to Catterick for accommodating this race, the 1st in the 8 race series.
Well done Matt who now leads the tables with the next leg of the series taking place this Wednesday at Leicester, the biggest field of the day with 16 declared.
A reminder that this series is for any amateur jockey who has ridden no more than 3 winners under rules at 1st April 2019, with point-to-point and Arab racing wins disregarded. Jockeys are invited to walk the course with a BHA Jockey Coach 90 minutes before each race and to attend the de-brief following weighing in.
Beverley Racecourse hosted the 28th running of the Dorothy Laird Memorial pro-am ladies race on 16th July, remembering a remarkable woman authoress and founder member of the Lady Jockeys Association.
Congratulations to Amy Collier on her 2nd winner of the season when enjoying repeat success with Karen Tutty’s THORNTOUN CARE on 16th July having partnered him to victory at Haydock in early June.
Held up until making headway a couple of furlongs out, Amy switched to the outer and came with a strong run inside the final furlong staying on well to snatch victory from Emily Easterby in the final strides, winning by a head. Well done Amy!
Congratulations to Pat Millman on getting off the mark for this season at Newbury recently when scoring with his father’s RAGSTONE VIEW in the Newbury Nuffield Health Gym Handicap on 11th July. Making steady progress from about 2 furlongs from home, Ragstone View ran on well to win by 3/4 of a length from Becky Smith and LUNA MAGIC.
It is with great sadness that the Amateur Jockeys Association learned of Lucy Horner’s untimely death last weekend and we send our deepest condolences to her mother and family.
With a military background as Captain in the Royal Irish Regiment and winner of Sandown’s Grand Military Gold Cup in 2000 on her own NOYAN, Lucy was a huge supporter of military racing and gave Jamie Snowden his first Grand Military success on FOLLY ROAD when she was unavailable to ride herself due to military commitments.
Lucy enjoyed her best season as Champion Lady Amateur NH Jockey in 2008/09 with a seasonal total of 11 wins under rules and she was also runner-up in 2010/11 to Gina Andrews.
Lucy was a pioneer of the UK’s lady jump jockeys and rode a total of 28 winners under rules at home as well as point-to-point winners. She also represented the UK abroad riding in Ireland in 2008 and in the USA both independently in Kentucky (3 Flat and 5 timber wins) and as part of the Fegentri series in 2010. She also won in cross-country races at Le Touquet and Dieppe.
A serious eye problem interrupted Lucy’s riding career in 2009 and brought it to a premature end in 2011 but she will always be remembered as a talented lady jump jockey who helped to forge a path for the betterment of future female weighing room colleagues.
Congratulations to reigning champion lady jockey Becky Smith aboard Mark Loughnane’s BLUE MEDICI at Nottingham tonight when he got his head in front for the first time in his career! Well done Becks!
Many congratulations to Jess Llewellyn, a graduate of pony racing, who enjoyed a memorable first ever career win yesterday winning the Tapis Libre Joanna Mason Ladies Derby (named in honour of the 4 time winners) at Epsom with her grandfather Bernard Llewellyn’s NABHAN.
Jessica bided her time to produce her horse with a perfectly timed run to gain the upper hand in a thrilling finish, denying Hannah Welch aboard FRENCH MIX by a neck, with Emily Bullock 1 1/4 lengths third.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR JOCKEYS PLANNING TO TAKE A WORKING HOLIDAY INCLUDING POSSIBLE RIDES ABROAD THIS SUMMER:
A reminder to all jockeys who might be riding abroad in the near future, please take the time to read the following regarding INSURANCE FOR JOCKEYS RIDING ABROAD:
This card gives you the right to access state-provided health care when in Europe either at a reduced cost or in many cases free of charge.You need a National Insurance number or a National Health number in order to apply.
2 Make sure your Amateur Jockeys Association membership is up-to-date and valid so that in the event of an emergency you are entitled to help and support which is always available to AJA members.
3 Make sure you have clearance from the BHA both from the Medical Department and Licensing Disciplinary so that there are no problems when you come to weigh out abroad. This is essential especially in France where France Galop are strict.
4 Make sure you are race riding under the Rules of Racing under the jurisdiction of a Horseracing Authority which is recognised worldwide in order for your jockey race riding insurance (which comes with your BHA licence from weigh out to weigh in) to be valid.
5 Ensure you abide by the relevant rules of racing in your host country regarding body protector and whip rules etc.
6 Make sure that you purchase your own personal travel insurance in addition to the BHA insurance which your licence gives you. The BHA insurance does not cover repatriation if you have to be flown home in an emergency (cost approximately £25,000+) and therefore it really is worth it to purchase some travel insurance on-line for a small cost!We recommend Boots Travel Insurance with the Option 3 Hazardous Sports included. You only have to purchase this for the day of your race to minimise costs and it could make all the difference if something goes wrong and you sustain a serious injury.You also may like to ask our excellent AJA insurers: Max Johnson of Johnson Insurance on 07788 138634 for a competitive quote and personal service.
7 Make sure you are registered with a GP in the UK. This might sound unnecessary but for some Irish jockeys now based in the UK this is really important.
8 A further reminder for jockeys considering working abroad this summer: If a rider is based overseas and hopes to ride under Rules overseas, a permit must be sought from the relative governing authority in which they are currently based (e.g. France Galop, Direktorium Für Vollblutzucht Und Rennen).Riders with existing and valid BHA Amateur Rider permits can ride overseas for up to a period of up to thirty consecutive days. After a period of 30 successive days overseas, riders’ insurance ceases to be valid.Permits will not be renewed or granted for individuals that are not permanently based in Britain at the time of application.
Good luck if this is you and enjoy the experience!
