Tag Archive for: Hayley Turner

Seeking Value with Female Flat Jockeys

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The 3.30 race at Goodwood on September 3rd 2024 will be one that Hollie Doyle will cherish for the rest of her life, writes Dave Renham. It was the race where she rode her 1000th career winner on the David Simcock-trained Leyhaimur. In doing so, Hollie became only the second woman to achieve this monumental feat following in the footsteps of Hayley Turner who rode her 1000th winner in November last year (2023).

Horse racing is one of the few sports where men and women compete against each other on a level playing field. One would sincerely hope that by now Doyle and Turner have proven to trainers, punters, bookmakers and fellow jockeys alike that women riders can be as successful as their male counterparts.

Back in January 2021 Matt wrote a piece on the site where he set about trying to answer two questions:

1. Has the sport begun to level the chasmic disparity between male and female rider opportunities? and

2. To what degree is it appropriate to do that based on performance data?

 

His study covered a five-year period from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2020 and the link to read it is www.geegeez.co.uk/male-and-female-jockeys-a-comparison/.

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What I plan to do with this article is twofold. In the first part I am aiming to build upon the start of Matt’s research into his question of gender disparity, bringing us up to date over the subsequent four years. In the second part I would like to focus solely on the performance of female jockeys.

Male vs female: Overall Numbers

Firstly, let me share Matt’s findings for all riders in UK flat races between 2016 and 2020, broken down by gender focusing solely on the percentage of rides for each group.

 

 

As the pie chart shows, a whopping 91% of all rides were taken by male jockeys during this time frame. That's an enormous disparity. The question is, have matters improved at all in more recent times? Below is the same male/female percentage comparison but looking at data from 1st January 2021 to 5th September 2024:

 

 

Things have improved but just barely. I wonder if we have seen a year-on-year increase or not? Let’s see:

 

 

From 2021 to 2023 we were heading downwards not upwards. At least 2024 has seen the percentage move in the direction it should be. As can be seen, parity is a long way away and even an 80/20 male to female split seems years, possibly decades, away.

For these figures to change we need to see more Hollie Doyles. What I mean by that is that Hollie has ridden 17% of all the rides given to female jockeys in 2024. That equates to 796 rides out of the 4741 total rides for all female jockeys. Only two other female jockeys have had more than 300 rides this year to date, those being Saffie Osborne on 493 and Joanna Mason on 470. If, say, just another three female jockeys had been given the opportunities this year that Hollie has had (e.g. ridden in nearly 800 races), then the male riders to female riders’ splits would have moved from 88.7% male rides vs 11.3% female rides, to a better, if still badly unbalanced, split of 82.9% vs 17.1%. However, that would still be a solid improvement on the situation in a scenario where just three female jockeys get those better opportunities - and two of them used the lever of family connections to get started. Riders need races to gain experience, and the simple truth is that female jockeys are still not getting enough opportunities.

 

Male vs female: Favourites

Matt’s article also looked at data for favourites in terms of the male rides / female rides percentage splits. From 2016 to 2020 only 6.7% of all favourites were ridden by female jockeys. In the more recent past (2021 onwards) this has improved a little, but only to 8.3%. However, when we look at the overall results (2021-2024) for both groups of favourites we see some interesting findings:

 

 

Strike rates for both are within 0.33% of each other, but female jockeys have offered punters by far the better value. Losses to SP have been 7p in the £ better for female riders compared with the male jocks. Meanwhile the female A/E index is an excellent 0.96 compared with 0.91 for male riders. To Betfair SP backing all favourites ridden by female jockeys would have made a blind profit of £46.97 (ROI +2.6%).

If we examine like for like we get a better idea why the female jockeys have had the best of it on favourites. Most races in this favourite sample have been handicap races (because 71% of flat races in 2024 have been handicaps - and similar percentages apply to the other recent years). 80% of the races where females rode the favourite and 68% of races where males did have been handicap races. And in these handicap races female riders have outperformed their male counterparts. Here are the handicap favourite results for ’21 to ‘24 split by gender of the rider:

 

 

In these like for like races female jockeys have a better strike rate by roughly 1.5%, and they have almost broken even to SP, as compared with losses of 10% for males. The A/E index values (0.97 vs 0.91) also show a value edge for female riders. This represents a still present blind spot in the markets.

Before moving to part 2 of my piece, all the other stat comparisons Matt made in his write-up have similar percentage splits now to what they were then. As an example of this, from 2016 to 2020 25.2% of all apprentice jockey rides came from female riders, from 2021 onwards it stands marginally higher at 26.4%.

We can only hope the next four or five years sees a vast improvement and many more opportunities for female jockeys.

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Top Female Jockeys: An Overview

At this juncture, it's time to move away from the male vs female rider comparison and focus solely on the ladies. Let me look at the records of the female jockeys who have had the most rides between January 2021 and early September 2024 (ordered by number of rides):

 

 

Hollie Doyle

Hollie Doyle has the highest win percentage but over the years, as her stock has risen, it has become difficult to find profitable angles when backing her. Hollie still performs exceptionally well and is obviously one of the top jockeys in the country; it is just that she has become very popular with punters which makes her expensive to follow generally speaking.

If we go back to the previous two years (2019 and 2020), her ROI was -8% to SP, and you could have secured a healthy £177.24 (ROI +9.9%) if backing all her mounts to BSP. These 2019-2020 figures were achieved with a virtually identical strike rate to what transpired in 2021-2024. Clearly, then, it is this rising popularity in the last four years especially that have driven down the prices on her runners and thus any value has been stifled.

Saffie Osborne

That has yet to happen  - though of course it will do - with Saffie Osborne, as backing all her rides “blind” in the past four seasons would have secured a profit to BSP of £65.98 (ROI +3.6%). In fact, Osborne has produced a blind profit to BSP in each of the last three years.

I am a firm believer that Saffie Osborne, if given the right opportunities, can be as successful as Hollie Doyle in the years to come. She is only 22 and she seems to be going from strength to strength, especially when we consider her yearly performances in terms of the A/E index stat. This stat is one that attempts to establish value where, generally speaking, a figure above 1.00 represents a good value proposition. Here are Osborne’s A/E figures by year:

 

 

As the graph shows her figures have been getting better and better year on year. No wonder she has proved profitable to back to BSP more recently.

Saffie has had an excellent record with horses near the front end of the betting since the start of 2021. Those runners with an SP of 6/1 or shorter have provided her with 162 winners from 653 runners (SR 24.8%) for an SP profit of £40.04 (ROI + 6.1%). To BSP this improves to +£97.50 (ROI +15%). If we extend this to horses priced 14/1 or shorter, she is still in profit to SP to the tune of £31.54 (ROI +2.5%) thanks to 220 wins from 1277 rides (SR 17.3%). To BSP her profits stand at a healthy £207.88 (ROI +16.3%).

I am sure the value on Saffie Osborne’s mounts will soon diminish, especially if continuing this upwards spiral. However, for the moment I think she will continue to offer punters good value.

Joanna Mason

Another female jockey to impress me recently has been Joanna Mason. She primarily rides for the Mick & David Easterby - granddad and uncle respectively - yard and, when we compare her record for this yard with all other jockeys combined, we see the following:

 

 

Her stats are far better than when combining all the other Easterby jockeys in one group. This has also been the case when we compare the results of the more fancied runners from the stable. With Easterby horses priced 9/1 or shorter we get these splits:

 

 

It should be noted that to BSP a blind profit could have been had backing all of Joanna's runners, as well as the subset of those priced 9/1 or shorter.

It is a shame that she has not been given many opportunities from the bigger yards: she has ridden five times for William Haggas including three rides since May this year. She has ridden one winner and had three placed horses so hopefully more rides will come her way from that stable soon.

Hayley Turner

Hayley Turner averages around 400 rides a year these days, down somewhat on the peak of her career when between 2006 and 2012 she averaged 725 rides per year. However, she is still performing well 24 years after her first ride and especially when her horse is prominent in the betting. In the past four seasons on horses with an SP of 4/1 or shorter she has won 81 of her 264 rides (SR 30.7%) for a small £10.76 profit to SP. This equates to a return of just over 4p in the £. To BSP the figures improve to +£28.65 (ROI +10.9%).

David Simcock and Andrew Balding continue to use Hayley on a fairly regular basis and these two trainers have provided her with the most rides in the past four seasons. Both trainers have been rewarded with excellent results:

 

 

Turner has been very close to breaking even for both trainers across all their combination runners, and to BSP she has made a profit of £15.77 (ROI +9.3%) for Balding, and £21.83 (ROI +10.8%) for Simcock.

Josephine Gordon

Josephine Gordon has an overall win strike rate of only 7% across the past four seasons but 58% of her rides have been on horses priced 14/1 or bigger. Hence, she tends to ride lesser fancied runners which explains that low strike rate. However, when we focus on her rides on horses whose prices were 12/1 or shorter at SP her record reads 57 wins from 458 rides (SR 14.6%). These runners have edged into profit at SP to the tune of £2.42. To BSP profits stand at +£64.66 (ROI +14.1%).

While writing this article there has been quite a coincidence because Josephine Gordon has just won at Kempton in the Class 2 London Mile Series Final Handicap on Whitcombe Rocker at 11/1, giving him a brilliant ride from a tough outside stall. Funny how things happen like that!

One to note: Olivia Tubb

To finish up I want to talk about an apprentice who, despite having only 122 rides to date, could be the real deal. Her name is Olivia Tubb, and she is currently apprentice jockey to Jonathan Portman. Her overall record is impressive:

 

Clearly it is early days, but when we examine her record for Portman, she has a 17.7% strike rate producing returns to SP of 26p in the £ (44p to BSP). All other jockeys combined when riding for Portman have won just 7.4% of races losing a whopping 45p in the £.

It is also impressive to note that with horses priced 4/1 or shorter she is 11 from 29 (SR 37.9%) for a profit to SP of £15.24 (ROI +52.6%). Her A/E index stands at a huge 1.55. She should have an exciting future – let’s hope she gets enough chances to prove it.

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To conclude, there is sadly still a wide opportunity chasm between the chances afforded to male riders as compared to female riders. That needs to change because there is plenty of female talent in the jockey ranks - and the stats I've shared I hope has proved that beyond doubt.

- DR



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Hayley Turner leads the Ladies to successful defence of Shergar Cup

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Hayley Turner cemented her position as the undisputed queen of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup as she led her Ladies team to a third success in five years at Ascot – also landing her third Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle award for top rider.

Making her 17th appearance at the unique event, Turner edged out her teammate Joanna Mason in the final race, with New Image (100-30 favourite) beating Yantarni in the Mile to secure the title by 11 points from Europe (71-60).

That last-gasp success drew Turner level with South African Rachel Venniker on 35 points for the leading jockey crown, but she took the number one spot overall on countback.

“Alistair Haggis was actually the reason the girls started on the Shergar Cup teams. When I started there were two teams and Alistair suggested that each team had a girl, so Emma-Jayne (Wilson) represented the Rest of the World and I represented Great Britain and Ireland and since then it has just snowballed,” said Turner.

“It’s great. Obviously Alistair is not with us now, but he played a key part in all the Shergar Cup victories I’ve had.

“I think it helps that the trainers don’t get to choose if I ride their horses or not, I do end up with better rides than what I’d usually get and it just goes to show it’s the animals that get you there and not just the jockeys. All my family are up here, there will be a big celebration tonight.”

Ranch Hand was part of a Shergar Cup double for Hayley Turner
Ranch Hand was part of a Shergar Cup double for Hayley Turner (Steven Paston/PA)

Turner had earlier executed a perfect front-running ride on Andrew Balding’s Ranch Hand (13-2) who was headed close home by Beamish and Seamie Heffernan in the Stayers race before battling back to win by a head.

Turner said: “The horse is very tough to be fair. It was quite nice for the Kingsclere Racing Club, as I had a winner for them here last week as well and they are always out in force – they are going to have a good afternoon now.”

While the Ladies trio of Turner, Mason and French Group One-winning jockey Marie Velon took the team prize, they were far from the only female riders in action, with the split of jockeys 50-50 for the first time.

Holkham Bay ridden by Rachel Venniker won the opening race
Holkham Bay ridden by Rachel Venniker won the opening race (Steven Paston/PA)

Venikker had got the day off to a flier for the Rest of the World aboard William Knight’s Holkham Bay (4-1 favourite) in the Dash that opened the day’s proceedings.

The South African is the only female professional in her homeland and was thrilled to get on the scorebaord.

Venniker said: “I couldn’t have asked for a better start and the horse made it nice and easy for me. Thank you so much to the winning connections and thank you to Ascot. It was almost hard to pull him up, he won so well! A great start. This is a beautiful track to ride on, and to ride the first winner is more than I could have hoped for.”

Rachel King, riding for the Rest of the World as an adopted Australian but a former amateur jockey in the UK before her career took off, then scored for her old boss Alan King with Insanity (9-2).

The trainer explained how the pair go back an awful long way.

Insanity and Rachel King return victorious
Insanity and Rachel King return victorious (Steven Paston/PA)

“I love it when a plan comes together! I haven’t been a huge supporter of the Shergar Cup in the past, but I thought it was the ideal race, and to draw Rachel on Thursday was terrific,” King said.

“I think her last ride for me was 16 years ago in a ladies’ hurdle race at Ludlow. She was third, but what I remember is that I couldn’t carry the weight cloth out! She had 11st 5lb or something, and there’s nothing of her. But it’s lovely. It’s great to see her – I haven’t seen her for a long time. We had a good catch up at Olly Murphy’s wedding yesterday.”

Billy Loughnane is only 18, and while Turner was riding in her 17th Shergar Cup, he showed his undoubted class as a star of the future when winning on Owen Burrows’ Jarraaf (5-6 favourite) in the Sprint.

“It’s a lovely thing to be a part of. Hayley has been doing it a long time; I’m only 18 and she’s been doing it 17 years, it’s her gig as she says, but I’m going to try to take it off her!” he said.

“I’m very lucky. I’m in a lovely position with the trainers and owners I ride for and it’s great to be a part of it.”

Going Remote (12-1) was a sole winner for Europe under Bauyrzhan Murzabayev  in the Classic.



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Turner follows up landmark success with Mount Atlas triumph

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Mount Atlas rose above his rivals to take the John Guest Racing Handicap at Ascot for Hayley Turner and Andrew Balding.

Fresh off the back of riding her 1,000th British winner at Yarmouth on Thursday evening, Turner took the ride on the 14-1 shot for the first time in his career.

The mile-and-a-half handicap, worth over £23,000 to the winner, had attracted a field of eight and Mount Atlas was ridden patiently towards the back of the field.

As the race progressed, the featherweight the horse was carrying began to tell and he stayed on best of all to succeed by half a length.

“He’s got a nice light weight, he stays well and he’s got a good attitude. He’s learning and growing and he’s doing it all the right way,” Turner told Sky Sports Racing.

“He’s quite lazy at home, he wouldn’t take your breath away on the gallops, but he does it on the racecourse and that’s the most important thing.”

Balding added: “He’s a horse we’ve always liked, he’s just always been a slow burner.

“Hayley’s done a wonderful job. Hayley’s a star, she works hard and she’s a lovely personality as well.

“She comes into us on a regular basis to ride out, she’s a very positive influence and we’re thrilled she’s got this milestone – hopefully with more to come.”

Balding had another winner on the card as Tactician took a step forward in his career with victory in the John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap.

Tactician winning the John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap
Tactician winning the John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap (Steven Paston/PA)

Beaten only a head at the track over a lesser trip last time out, the grey son of Lope De Vega was the 11-10 favourite under Oisin Murphy when tackling two miles for the first time.

He looked to relish the extended distance and came home three-quarters of a length to the good in a performance that could open up further staying options, such as the Melrose Stakes at York.

“He stays very well and it’s always a help when they like Ascot,” Balding said.

“It (the Melrose) is a possibility, there’s a nice handicap at Haydock as well. The fact that he stays two miles well brings other all-age races into play.

“He’s won off a mark of 86 today, so we’ll not get carried away, but he stays well and that is a help.”

Billy Mill and Saffie Osborne after winning the Chapel Down Handicap
Billy Mill and Saffie Osborne after winning the Chapel Down Handicap (Steven Paston/PA)

Rod Millman and Saffie Osborne teamed up with Billy Mill to land the Chapel Down Handicap at a price of 12-1.

The six-year-old was well guided through the contest to prevail by a length on the line from Ed Walker’s Amsterdam.

“I didn’t want him to jump as quickly as he did; sometimes when he sees a bit too much daylight, he gets too keen,” Osborne said.

“He settled beautifully and travelled into it really nicely. He’s done it really nicely in the end.”

Miss Fascinator opened her account at the third attempt in the John Guest Racing British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.

Miss Fascinator winning the John Guest Racing British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes
Miss Fascinator winning the John Guest Racing British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (Steven Paston/PA)

A promising second on her debut at Newmarket in late June, Roger Varian’s youngster could finish only fifth when a firm favourite for her second start at the July meeting but set the record straight with a near three-length success in Berkshire as a 9-4 market leader under Silvestre de Sousa.

“Perhaps the ground went last time and that’s why she didn’t perform, but it’s good ground out there, she travelled nice behind the leaders and picked up really well,” the jockey said.

“She could go for a nursery. She’s got a lot to improve physically and mentally as well, but that will come in time.

“She’s a nice filly going forward.”

De Sousa enjoyed another victory as Assail took the Slingsby Gin Handicap for David Simcock at 4-1, with Osborne also riding a double as Alcazan struck in the concluding Berenberg October Club Supporting Back Up Fillies’ Handicap for Roger Teal at 12-1.



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Turner backing Ascot second Docklands to strike Group One gold one day

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Hayley Turner was proud of the performance of Docklands after the pair combined to fill the runner-up spot in the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The record-breaking female rider has enjoyed four previous winners at Flat racing’s showpiece meeting, her most recent coming aboard Docklands in the Britannia Handicap 12 months ago.

Harry Eustace’s stable star has proven himself effective over the course and distance on several occasions, also finishing third in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day in October and second on his return to action in the Listed Paradise Stakes last month.

The four-year-old faced a step up in class for this Group One contest and while he was unable to keep tabs on the impressive 100-30 favourite Charyn, Docklands rewarded his connections by finishing comfortably best of the rest, beaten just over two lengths.

“That was a really good run, it’s just a shame to miss out. He deserved it and we really thought he had a chance,” said Turner.

“Annoyingly I never felt I was going to get to the winner, but I can’t fault him. I’m so pleased and the connections are so happy, he’s definitely got a Group One in him.

“The tracks he’s not performed well at are Goodwood in a small field and France with a slow pace. He’s such a strong traveller and he likes to be buried in amongst them, he can creep into it on the straight here. I’m just hoping he doesn’t go to Australia!”

As Docklands carries the colours of Australian-based owners OTI Racing, he is set for a trip to the southern hemisphere later in the year.

Docklands (right) chases home Charyn in the Queen Anne Stakes
Docklands (right) chases home Charyn in the Queen Anne Stakes (John Walton/PA)

“Very, very proud. He’s been an absolute star for us. He ran super, he really did. He just keeps turning up for us, he loves this track,” said Eustace.

“Dropping in with plenty of runners is what he needs and he hasn’t had that yet this year. It was a standout effort and we were just second best.

“We were confident in the way he was training at home and we knew he’d improve for it (his last run). We were confident coming here, it was just a question of running him the right race and hopefully we have, we’ll see!

“The Wolferton was the alternative but it’s on the round course and you need a lot more racing luck on there.

“We’re very happy with him and now we just have to make him a winner this year. We haven’t thought past this, Australia has always been an end-of-year target and we’ll work backwards from that.”

Maljoom finished an honourable third for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.

The five-year-old had made it to the track just twice since his fast-finishing fourth in the St James’s Palace Stakes two years ago, but he served notice there may still be a big prize on his horizon with a pleasing performance.

“He’s obviously bounced back to that solid Group One form that we knew he had, but hoped he’d remain at,” said Marquand.

“It looks like we will get him right back to the force of what he was looking like at one point. He’s not had much racing and I think he has just been a little bit rusty – he looks the best he has done for a long time. He’s coming back.”



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Docklands ‘almost certainly’ going for Queen Anne

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Harry Eustace has hinted that Docklands will take his place in the opening Queen Anne Stakes when Royal Ascot kicks off on Tuesday.

The four-year-old also holds an entry in the Wolferton Stakes later on the card, but the preference for the Newmarket handler is the Group One contest.

With long-time ante-post favourite Inspiral now likely to swerve the Queen Anne, Eustace is ready to take his chance at the highest level for the first time with Hayley Turner in the plate.

Docklands was narrowly beaten by Quddwah in a Listed Queen Anne trial last month under Oisin Murphy, with Simon and Ed Crisford’s charge also now missing the race after meeting with a setback.

Turner has twice partnered the Massaat colt to victory at the Berkshire track, guiding him home in handicap company before stepping up in class to win the Britannia Stakes by half a length at last year’s meeting.

Eustace said: “Hayley rides Docklands, and he almost certainly goes in the Queen Anne.

“I thought for the Wolferton it came up hot enough and it looks like Inspiral is off to the Prince of Wales’s.

“And for the Queen Anne it is probably not the strongest renewal so a straight mile for him will suit.”



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Hayley Turner and Flag Carrier record eventful Kempton success

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Persistence paid off for Hayley Turner after she bounced back from being unshipped leaving the paddock to ride Flag Carrier to victory at Kempton.

The 41-year-old was thrown off in dramatic fashion ahead of the Try Unibet’s Improved Bet Builder Handicap and the Harry Eustace-trained gelding had to be walked down to the start on his own.

Turner only got back on board her mount in the stalls and the three-year-old continued to cause her problems by pulling hard in the early stages.

However, when Flag Carrier finally settled down to business in the home straight of the seven-furlong contest, he picked up well from mid-division and went on to score by a length at 3-1.

“I think what’s happened is that he’s run with the blinkers on quite a lot and I just think it might have got the better of him today,” Turner told Racing TV.

“He’s been here before but he’s just got himself into a tizzle, so I think the guys have done a really good job of actually getting him to the start in one piece.

“I should probably give them my riding fee, because actually in the race he was a little bit keen but did it quite comfortably in the end.”

It was the first time Turner had partnered Flag Carrier, who broke his duck at the seventh time of asking, and she was happy to laugh off his unruly behaviour beforehand.

“He wasn’t the most straightforward and that’s not him generally, but he just had a bee in his bonnet today,” added the jockey.

“He still won despite that and at least I got a nice fall, because I landed in the hedge. The hedge hasn’t done very well out of it, but I was fine!”



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Michael Bell salutes Hayley Turner on hitting 1,000 winners

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Michael Bell has paid tribute to Hayley Turner after she hit a milestone tally of 1,000 career winners at Chelmsford on Tuesday night.

Turner rode David Simcock’s Tradesman to victory to tip the count to 1,000, fittingly sporting the Khalifa Dasmal silks she wore when she landed her first Group One success aboard Dream Ahead in the July Cup in 2011.

Simcock has championed her throughout her career and so too has fellow Newmarket trainer Bell, with Turner apprenticed at his yard as a teenager before sharing the 2005 champion apprentice title with Saleem Golam.

He said of her milestone victory: “It’s a huge personal achievement, she’s a credit to her profession and in many ways has been a role model and pathfinder for all female jockeys. She set the standards they aspire to.

“She came to me aged 18 or 19 having ridden one winner and it was pretty obvious looking at her ride that she had some natural ability.

Margot Did and Hayley Turner winning the Nunthorpe
Margot Did and Hayley Turner winning the Nunthorpe (John Giles/PA)

“At that stage I had to work quite hard to get owners to use her, but very soon her talent shone through and my job became pretty easy after she was riding bucketfuls of winners for us.”

Turner enjoyed a notable association with Bell’s top sprint filly Margot Did, with the duo contesting valuable five-furlong contests and landing the Nunthorpe at York together, just a month on from Dream Ahead’s July Cup win.

“She rode her in all her races, she’d already won the July Cup by that stage so that was two Group Ones in the space of a month. I think she then won a Group One in America the next autumn for David Simcock so she was on an absolute roll by then,” Bell added.

Bell also noted that Turner has shown plenty of resilience to go with her talent as her career has recovered from two major injuries, one of which caused a decision to retire in 2015 that was later rescinded.

He said: “Don’t forget Hayley also had a sabbatical, or a retirement, and a couple of injuries that would have finished most people off. A head injury back in the day when she missed a year, and also that awful injury in the Park Hill, she then subsequently retired for another year.

“She probably missed at least two years riding through injury and it’s testament to her strength of character and fitness level that she’s lasted so long and been so successful.”



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Six of the best Hayley Turner triumphs

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To celebrate Hayley Turner reaching the 1,000 winners mark, we have picked out six of her most notable victories.

The 40-year-old has blazed a trail for female jockeys throughout her career, but it was not too hard to narrow this list down to her two Group One triumphs, plus four Royal Ascot strikes!

Dream Ahead (2011)

Horse Racing – The Piper Heidsieck July Festival – Darley July Cup Day – Newmarket Racecourse
Hayley Turner celebrates on Dream Ahead after winning the Darley July Cup (Steve Parsons/PA)

Turner became the first female jockey to claim a Group One success outright when steering David Simcock’s star sprinter to victory in the July Cup over six furlongs at Newmarket. The 7-1 shot had to overcome trouble in running but showed a superb turn of foot once getting clear and was half a length in front of Bated Breath at the finishing post. With regular partner William Buick required elsewhere that day, Turner said: “I’ve not sat on the horse before, so I can’t take much credit, but credit to David and the owner (Khalifa Dasmal) for chucking me up on him.”

Margot Did (2011)

Hayley Turner and Margot Did celebrate their Nunthorpe win in 2011
Hayley Turner and Margot Did celebrate their Nunthorpe win in 2011 (John Giles/PA)

Despite being 20-1, Margot Did travelled sweetly throughout the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and, after hitting the front approaching the furlong pole, she kept on strongly to beat Hamish McGonagall by three-quarters of a length. Turner became the woman to win this Group One prize over five furlongs, after Alex Greaves had dead-heated on Ya Malak in 1997. Turner said: “I am just thrilled with how the race has gone. She’s a small filly, but she’s very tough. She liked having plenty of room and just blasted.”

Thanks Be (2019)

Hayley Turner poses with horse Thanks Be and trainer Charlie Fellowes (left)
Hayley Turner poses with horse Thanks Be and trainer Charlie Fellowes (left) (Mike Egerton/PA)

Turner became only the second woman – and first since Gay Kelleway 32 years earlier – to ride a Royal Ascot winner when Charlie Fellowes’ 33-1 shot triumphed in the Sandringham Stakes. Thanks Be got home by a neck from the Queen’s Magnetic Charm, and Turner joked: “Fair play to Gay, she has had the bragging rights for a long time and now I can take them off her. Royal Ascot is different class – I’ve had winners all over the world and it is a buzz, but Royal Ascot is so unique and has so much history.”

Onassis (2020)

Onassis repeated the dose for Hayley Turned in the Sandringham
Onassis repeated the dose for Hayley Turned in the Sandringham (Megan Ridgwell/PA)

History repeated itself as Turner again teamed up with Fellowes to land the Sandringham for the second straight year, with this filly also going off as a 33-1 outsider. Turner produced Onassis from stall one on the previously unfavoured part of the track to hit the front and land a cosy triumph by a length and a quarter from Waliyak. No spectators were present due to Covid protocols, but the jockey said: “For us, nothing really changes, it’s still great to have a Royal Ascot winner whether people are here or not.”

Latin Lover (2022)

Latin Lover (purple and white quarters) burst out of the pack to win
Latin Lover (purple and white quarters) burst out of the pack to win (David Davies/PA)

Another well-timed late surge saw this 5-1 chance pip Nymphadora in the dying strides of the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes, giving trainer Harry Eustace a maiden Royal Ascot victory with his first runner at the meeting. George Wood usually partnered the gelding but Turner proved a more than able deputy, stating: “It’s a bit unfortunate, but he can’t do the weight so it went in my favour.”

Docklands (2023)

Royal Ascot delight for Hayley Turner with Docklands
Royal Ascot delight for Hayley Turner with Docklands (John Walton/PA)

Turner produced the Eustace-trained colt late on to land the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, coming with a tremendous rattle up the stands rail to collar New Endeavour in the closing strides. She said of the 6-1 favourite: “I honestly didn’t know until they called the photo whether I had won or not because the two horses were so far apart. It’s such a thrill.”



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Hayley Turner brings up magical 1,000th career winner

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Hayley Turner secured the 1,000th winner of her record-breaking riding career aboard Tradesman at Chelmsford on Tuesday evening.

Turner has been a pioneer for female jockeys since arriving on the scene as an apprentice in 2000, notching a string of landmark firsts.

After reaching the 999-winner mark with Lunar Eclipse at Newmarket earlier this month, Turner was made to wait a little longer for her 1,000th – but appropriately it came in the Dream Ahead colours of owner Khalifa Dasmal for trainer David Simcock.

For it was in 2011 she broke new ground when steering Dream Ahead to victory in the July Cup at Newmarket, becoming the first woman to secure a Group One victory outright.

Dream Ahead’s triumph was quickly followed by another elite-level success on board Margot Did in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York just over a month later.

Hayley Turner after Royal Ascot success this year
Hayley Turner after Royal Ascot success this year (John Walton/PA)

Beaming as she returned to unsaddle from Tradesman, who was sent off the 9-4 favourite for the two-mile Illuminate Christmas Ball Handicap, Turner told Racing TV: “It’s taken me plenty of time, it’s nice to see that the girls behind me that are up and coming – Hollie (Doyle), Saffie (Osborne), Nicola Currie, Josephine (Gordon), they are all riding so well every day. Although it’s taken me 20 years, it will probably take them half the time, it’s nice to see the progression from when I started to now. It’s great.

“It makes me feel very proud when I think that perhaps I played a part in the successes of their career, a very small part.

“I’ve seen a lot of the girls come and go and they’ve all played a big part in getting female riders to where they are now.

“Unfortunately Khalifa Dasmal’s not here, but I’m sure he’ll be watching at home and I’m hugely grateful to him. I’ve had a lot of fun on his horses over the years.”

Speaking of her best racing memory so far and her biggest supporters, Turner added: “David Simcock, who gave me my first Group One winner and has been a supporter of mine since day one and continues to do so.

Turner and Margot Did after landing the Nunthorpe
Turner and Margot Did after landing the Nunthorpe (John Giles/PA)

“It was particularly nice to have a Group One winner for Michael Bell on Margot Did in the Nunthorpe, he helped get me going as an apprentice and got the ball rolling. That was one of the hardest things to do at that time because we girls weren’t that fashionable.

“He’s really put his neck on the line, as has David, to get me here.”

Turner has smashed through countless barriers over the past two decades, notably sharing the apprentice title with Saleem Golam in 2005 before becoming the first female jockey to ride 100 winners in a calendar year in 2008.

The 40-year-old announced her retirement from riding in the autumn of 2015 and the following year was made an OBE for services to horseracing in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The Nottinghamshire-born jockey made a brief return to the saddle in the summer of 2016, initially to take part in the Shergar Cup, and later enjoyed a spell in France before confirming her intention to return to full-time race-riding on home soil in February of 2018.

In 2019, she became only the second female jockey – and first since Gay Kelleway 32 years earlier – to ride a Royal Ascot winner when Thanks Be triumphed in the Sandringham Handicap.

This year, Turner claimed her fourth Royal Ascot victory when partnering Docklands in the Britannia Stakes, yet another major highlight on the road to her latest achievement.

Hayley Turner is a stalwart of the Shergar Cup
Hayley Turner is a stalwart of the Shergar Cup (John Walton/PA)

The Professional Jockeys Association paid its tribute, with interim chief executive Dale Gibson saying: “It’s rare for jockeys to ride 1,000 winners, but Hayley Turner OBE has become the first female rider in Britain to do so.

“Her career to date has been full of superlatives; Hayley was the first female jockey to ride 100 winners in a season, she was also champion apprentice jockey as well as winning some of the UK and world’s most prestigious races, including four Royal Ascot winners to date.

“Hayley is one of a growing number of outstanding female jockeys in Britain who compete against men at the highest levels of the sport and across the globe. The Professional Jockeys Association, which champions all jockeys’ interests, believes Hayley’s achievements will encourage many more women to participate in the sport, with the expectation that more than a fifth of all jockeys in the UK will be women by 2030.

“Congratulations Hayley – a truly fantastic achievement.”



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Hayley Turner managing to smile after dramatic Storm Babet rescue

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Hayley Turner made it safely to Ascot for Qipco British Champions Day after requiring a dramatic rescue from her flooded car on Friday.

The record-breaking rider is currently hunting down her 1,000th career victory and was hoping to arrive in Berkshire on 999 winners with a fancied ride on Docklands in the closing Balmoral Handicap.

Turner was expecting to ride Run Zarak Run at Redcar on Friday – but never made it to the north-east track after having to place an emergency call when her car was swamped in the midst of Storm Babet.

While Turner emerged unscathed, Run Zarak Run duly romped home under replacement PJ McDonald to add to her woes.

She told ITV Racing: “My dream was nearly in place, but I had a bit of an incident yesterday. Basically my car is floating down the Great North Road somewhere on my way to Redcar.

“I had to call 999 and get the fireman to come and rescue me – I actually got a fireman’s lift out of my car window!

“The horse then won about 15 lengths so a very frustrating day. I’m car-less and win-less as well.”



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Hayley Turner moves closer to landmark 1,000th winner

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Hayley Turner says she has no plans to retire having edged closer to 1,000 career winners aboard Club Manager at Nottingham.

Turner now requires five to reach the landmark number and had a willing partner at Colwick Park in the form of Andrew Balding’s four-year-old, who bettered his second at Bath last month in the testing going.

The former champion apprentice previously hung up her saddle at the end of the 2015 season only to return the following year and the 40-year-old is in no rush to depart the weighing room for a second time.

Club Manager enjoyed the step up to two miles at Nottingham
Club Manager enjoyed the step up to two miles at Nottingham (PA)

“I’m enjoying it so much,” said Turner.

“I realised when I retired before you have to actually work quite hard.

“I’ve got five to go (for 1,000) and I’m getting there slowly.”

Club Manager was sent off the 11-4 favourite for the Follow @worldpool On X Handicap, with the three-year-old thriving in his first try over two miles.

Turner added: “He’s a well-bred horse being a half-brother to Side Glance and he loved the ground and travelled very easy on it.

“Probably getting to the front two out wasn’t ideal as he can be a little bit lazy, but I kept him up to his work and he did it well.”

Tom Ward’s Our Golden One (4-1) put her experience to good use as she prevailed over the John and Thady Gosden-trained debutant Beeley in the opening HKJC Riding High Together EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

Probert said: “She was very tough. I just wanted to put her to sleep early on and do it the right way round – she was a bit keen in the early stages at Sandown and looked a touch unlucky when needing room quite late.

Our Golden One opens her account at Colwick Park
Our Golden One opens her account at Colwick Park (PA)

“She ran well in defeat there and the winner has held up her form by running quite well in a Group One.

“I think she will stay further next year and is very versatile in terms of what ground she will go on. She’s moved on that ground today like it was good ground, so she’s a likeable filly and on the improve.”

In-form trainer Ben Brookhouse took the Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap with 100-30 favourite Ray Vonn, but was denied a double when the hat-trick seeking I Still Have Faith could only finish second behind an on-song Dubai Souq (5-2) in the concluding worldpool.hkjc.com Handicap.

Saeed bin Suroor’s six-year-old had been without a victory since November 2021, but relished the testing conditions in the hands of Kieran Shoemark to register the second course-and-distance triumph of his career.

“He ran away with me really, I was a bit of a passenger,” said the winning jockey.

“He skipped clear and loves that ground. They told me to kick just before they got to me and I was a bit concerned about doing that as I thought it would be too much too early.

“But he’s a genuine type and just kept galloping. He’s won decisively so you would like to think he’s well handicapped.”

The HKIR In December Handicap went the way of the Kevin Frost-trained Spoof (9-4 favourite), who once again proved there is plenty left in the tank.

It was the eight-year-old’s fourth win since joining the Newark-based handler late last year and Frost could not hide his delight in the stalwart sprinter.

“He’s done us proud and won us plenty of prize-money,” said Frost

“The key to him is getting some soft or heavy ground. He will go on ground others won’t entertain.

“He’s a tough old lad and a typical sprinter. He’s good for me as he keeps me on my toes and you have to think about what you are doing with him every single day. You can’t do the same yesterday as you do today. You have to be mixing it up and keeping his mind right.

“He’s great and been a good old stick for us.”

Tom Marquand enjoyed partnering Rhubarb to victory at Nottingham
Tom Marquand enjoyed partnering Rhubarb to victory at Nottingham (PA)

There was also a fitting success for Tom Marquand on the card as he partnered Richard Price’s 14-1 shot Rhubarb to victory in the World Pool At Newmarket This Saturday Handicap.

“She’s not had much go her way this season and I had a horror story on her at Windsor,” said Marquand.

“She’s had a couple of races like that but it was nice to roll back the years and ride a winner for Richard because, to be fair, when I first started he was one of the trainers I rode the most winners for alongside Tony Carroll and of course Richard Hannon.

“It’s always a pleasure riding him a winner.”



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Hayley Turner hits Britannia jackpot for Harry Eustace

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Hayley Turner gained a fourth Royal Ascot success after producing Docklands with a tremendous rattle up the stands rail to collar New Endeavour in the closing strides of the Britannia Handicap.

The field split for the mile event with the far side looking most likely to prevail, as New Endeavour and David Egan looked to have poached a winning lead inside the final furlong.

Yet Turner’s mount, who had gone up a stone in the handicap after the Harry Eustace-trained colt had won on handicap debut on the all-weather at Kempton, powered up the rail to prevail as the 6-1 favourite.

New Endeavour, sent off a 22-1 chance for trainer Roger Varian, won his race in the far side, with Urban Sprawl (50-1) and Thunder Ball (66-1) following him home and filling the minor honours.

Turner said: “I honestly didn’t know until they called the photo whether I had won or not because the two horses were so far apart.

“It’s such a thrill and today a lot of history has been made, so to look back on today is amazing.”

Eustace – brother of Melbourne Cup-winning trainer David Eustace – said: “Terry Henderson of OTI Racing (owners) has been a supporter of mine, and of my brothers in Australia, from the get-go, really, and to be able to repay him with a Royal Ascot winner is very special.

“It’s always a team effort, but it’s a family business as well, but having my brother here from Oz, and my cousin and aunt and uncle – it’s very, very special. You can’t ask for more.”

The Richard Hannon-trained Witch Hunter came from the clouds to lift the Buckingham Palace Stakes under a classic ride from Jamie Spencer.

The four-year-old has finished second three times since the turn of the year, but with his only two previous victories coming on the all-weather at Wolverhampton he was a 50-1 shot for another devilishly difficult handicap over the straight seven furlongs.

As is his wont, Spencer played his hand as late as he dared, with Witch Hunter still nearer last than first entering the final furlong.

But not long after the well-fancied Croupier was produced to lead, Spencer and his willing partner came at him fast and late to get up and claim a last-gasp victory.

Hannon said: “Jamie’s given him a lovely ride – I hate the way he rides, why does he keep doing that to us?!

“He gave him a super ride and the horse kind of enjoyed that. When he passes one he gets his momentum. And when they pass him, sometimes he just goes, sod it, I’ll go another day. He’s a very good horse on his day and I don’t care what price he is.

I’m delighted for William (Stobart, owner), he’s a lovely man, and his wife Clare.

“I kind of needed that!”



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Scampi provides tasty York triumph for Turner

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Hayley Turner teamed up with Andrew Balding to win the first race at York in 2023 on Scampi.

The five-year-old had finished fifth in a recent pipe-opener at Epsom and stripped much fitter for the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap.

Carrying the colours of microshare ownership group RaceShare, Scampi was sent off at 16-1, but those who took that price were never unduly worried as Turner smuggled him into the race travelling extremely well with two furlongs to run.

Having hit the front a long way out, Scampi was kept up to his task and had plenty in hand in beating Sam Cooke by half a length, with favourite Real Dream another half a length away in third.

Anna Lisa Balding, the trainer’s wife, said: “It’s always difficult in these high-quality handicaps, but he is in really good form and has done nothing wrong at home.

“Hayley has given him a beautiful ride and he really deserves this, it’s fantastic and we are thrilled.

“It’s so great to see people (owners) who are so passionate. I’m getting lots of beeps (messages) from all our staff saying ‘I’m a winning owner’, so they’ve obviously invested as well!

“He’s travelled so well stepping back up in trip. Like all these handicappers, everything has got to be right on the day and today was his day. The trainer has done quite a good job!”

The Kevin Ryan-trained Bielsa got back on the winning trail in the Churchill Tyres Handicap.

Bielsa and Oisin Murphy (far side) strike gold at York
Bielsa and Oisin Murphy (far side) strike gold at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

The eight-year-old had not managed to get his head in front since lifting the 2021 Ayr Gold Cup, but as a result was 3lb lower in the weights ahead of his latest assignment on the Knavesmire.

Fresh from a runner-up finish on his seasonal bow at Redcar, Bielsa quickened up to grab the lead with over a furlong still to run in the hands of Oisin Murphy and had enough in hand to repel the challenge of Lethal Levi by a neck. The winner’s stablemate Magical Spirit was best of the rest in third.

“He’s done very well for us. He travelled very well today, Oisin probably thought he got there a little bit too soon but it’s great to see him come back and win a very nice prize,” said Ryan.

“He likes it here and he’s come back in very well after his winter break and progressed from his first run. Hopefully he can build on that

“He kept straight and true today, which he hasn’t always done, but he ran right through the line there so he hasn’t done much wrong.

“That was also a fabulous run from Magical Spirit as he wants the ground softer as it’s genuine good ground out there.”

Sean Levey was gifted on easy lead on Richard Hannon’s Dark Thirty (10-1) and took full advantage in the Conundrum HR Consulting Handicap.

Highly-tried as a juvenile after winning on his debut at Newbury, he looked one of the more exposed runners in the 14-runner field but just held on from the closing Catch The Paddy by a neck.

“He can be a bit gassy, but he’s a lovely horse who did ever so well on his first couple of starts as a two-year-old and probably reached his ceiling in the latter part of the year,” said Levey.

“He’s done well over the winter and got stronger and with every run he’s getting there.

“I think that sort of race (Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot) will suit him.”

Tom Marquand rode the winner of the last
Tom Marquand rode the winner of the last (David Davies/PA)

Adrian Keatley’s Kihavah landed the closing Stuey Weston & Friends Getting Out Handicap for a second successive year.

Ridden by Tom Marquand, the 7-1 shot repelled the challenge of 9-2 favourite Vega Sicilia to win by a length.

Keatley said: “We gave him a little break and then had a run over hurdles (at Ayr). The lads are all Scottish and that just left him right.

“We waited for this race and that was good.”



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