IN the region of 27 per cent of the full professional and apprentice female jockeys who have ridden on the Flat this season were in action at Wolverhampton on Saturday night.
On the one hand you could say ‘great’. So many girls getting a chance.
Hollie Doyle has been one of the trailblazing women riders of modern times – but progress across the board isn’t keeping up
But I didn’t see it like that at all.
And if British racing really wants female riders to play a big part in this sport something needs to change quicker than it is currently is.
And that’s not a new cry. Indeed, it’s a very old one.
There were five Flat meetings in Britain Saturday. Big fields up at Ayr, plus Newbury, Chester and Newmarket.
Wolverhampton offered the lowest grade action, with no less than half a dozen Class 6 races and three Class 5s.
At Ayr, Joanna Mason had a ride in the Silver Cup and finished second on Sondad, while Lauren Young was on board Jordan Electrics in the Gold version.
It’s worth pointing out, also, that Saffie Osborne would have been in at Ayr if not injured.
That all said, the majority of female riders trying to earn a living on Saturday were scraping about at Wolverhampton in desperate races.
And that included big names.
Heading the list was Hollie Doyle, a multiple Group 1 winner.
Joining her were Josephine Gordon, Georgia Dobie, Laura Pearson, Taryn Langley, Nicola Currie, Gina Mangan, Dominique van Der Kraats, Laura Coughlan and Rose Dawes.
Currie, excellent for my team in Racing League, was the only one to get a winner.
The following numbers might not be 100 per cent accurate, but I believe there are about 37 professional female riders (in comparison approximately to 182 male) who have been in action this Flat season.
Ten of them at Wolverhampton would mean in the region of 27 per cent were working at that course.
It doesn’t suggest those who pick jockeys are turning to the girls in any sort of big way for the better contests.
Something has to be done.
And I don’t think the powers that be or the female riders can be complacent in any way.
Remember, over jumps a relative star in Bryony Frost has left the UK for France because she has not managed to get enough opportunities.
Also, Lily Pinchin told me at Fontwell on Monday that it was “very hard” to get people to use her.
But back to the Flat.
I’d start with a small incentive for owners and trainers to be encouraged to use a female rider.
Nothing insulting, nothing suggesting anyone who is female is not as capable, just something that represents an understanding that it’s much harder for a good female jockey to get the chance than a good male rider.
I have no doubt in my mind that it is at the apprentice stage the young female riders need to have the chance to show more what they can do.
So if the boys initially get 10lb (when riding for their stable) allowance, then give the girls 12lb.
Then when the boys are on 7lb let the girls take 10lb off.
And then when the boys are on 5lb let the girls take off 7lb.
And when the boys are on 3lb let the girls take off 5lb.
I’d then let female riders have 3lb for a period longer than male riders.
What time or numbers of winners exactly would be easy for someone to decide.
Understandably, in the past female jockeys have said they don’t want a system like the above and they mostly want to be treated equally.
And I completely understand that. I wouldn’t like it either if I was them.
But when I looked at Saturday’s Wolverhampton card, I was left thinking we have to do something.
Rightly or wrongly, owners and trainers historically need to be persuaded to put female riders up.
The only way this will ever change is if the riders themselves accept some help.
/racin
