I’ve always had a theory. When you’re an amateur jockey as I was, or indeed an apprentice or conditional, and therefore not being paid very much, or in the case of amateurs nothing at all, people are very happy to give you a chance.
As soon as it comes to a professional situation it’s really weird, something happens and it’s much more difficult for women. That’s why the best female jumps jockeys, Nina Carberry, Katie Walsh, have been advised not to turn professional, to stay amateur.
I think it’s a combination of really deep rooted and possibly subconscious bias.
I think it’s also the trainer is in a position where they are having to justify to an owner that they’re using that person because they’re the best available.
In their minds, when they are apprentices and amateurs they can say that easily because the owner is not paying anything for them. As soon as it’s professional, I think they second guess the owner and say ‘oh well we would use Sammy Jo Bell but we’ve got a chance to use Oisin Murphy so we’ll use him instead.
Clare Balding: ” When you’re an amateur, people are happy to give you a chance.” Photo Credit: Bill Waters, The Telegraph
As an amateur I think I never had any problem getting good rides in good races, but had I gone professional I would have struggled straight away, and ended up having to ride horses owned or trained by people I was related to.
To read what jockey Bryony Frost had to say about her decision to turn professional, click here.
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