It’s been a momentous year for female jockeys — and another milestone has fallen just days before the end of 2015.
On Saturday, Lizzie Kelly became the first woman rider to win a Grade One jumps race in Britain, triumphing aboard favorite Tea for Two in the Kauto Star Novices Chase at Kempton.
It followed the success of November’s first female Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne, Irish Grand National victor Katie Walsh, and the all-women Shergar Cup-winning team of Hayley Turner, Sammy-Jo Bell and Emma-Jayne Wilson at Ascot in August.
The pioneering Turner, who retired in November, was the first to win a UK Grade One race outright in 2011.
She tweeted congratulations to the 22-year-old Kelly, calling her triumph “no steering job.”
Kelly had gone close to a Grade One win in France last month on Aubusson, but was beaten at the post.
But this time, riding a horse trained by her stepfather Nick Williams, she won by four lengths.
“I’m thrilled for her. It’s important for girls to make it in racing and we set out to try to prove girls can win Grade Ones,” her mother and assistant trainer Jane Williams told the UK Press Association.
“He’s tricky and is a difficult horse,” Kelly added. “Mum has always looked after him, been very quiet and slow with him and he’s just beginning to really come into himself now.
“It might only be a small race, but you’ve done it and today made it even better as it was that horse, a Grade One and a massive day for us.”