Girl power forces club expansion
THE emergence of Queensland’s female jockeys was emphasised yesterday, with twice as many female riders than men competing at the Kilcoy meeting.
It is believed to be the first time women riders have outnumbered men at a major Queensland TAB meeting.
There were 20 female riders ranging in experience from veteran Sky Bogenhuber and Gold Coast senior jockeys Rikki Palmer and Laura Cheshire to TAB meeting debutantes Angela Taylor and Tess Townsend.
Male jockeys numbered 10, which created a problem on-course around the separate changing rooms, with the women’s facility too small.
Kilcoy is in the process of upgrading its female jockey facilities, which should be completed in a few months.
Kilcoy president Con Searle said the new facilities were needed because of the large number of female riders.
“Plans for an extension to the women’s jockeys room have been with the local council and we expect the go ahead any day,” Searle said.
“For this meeting we have arranged things so women riders can change in their room and then use the veranda to relax.
“But it is a sign of things to come. There is going to be a shortage of male riders before too long.”
Women riders in Queensland have taken major steps since Pam O’Neill became the first female to ride against men in 1979.
Since then Mandy Radecker, Tegan Harrison and Tiffani Brooker have won the apprentice jockeys title, while Bernadette Cooper was the Apprentice School Champion.
Stephanie Thornton is fifth in the current senior riders premiership in Brisbane.
Unfortunately, the last three races yesterday were abandoned owing to concerns around a section of the track near the 800m mark.
Until then, the ledger was square with Josh Oliver riding two winners for the males and Lani Fancourt and Sophie Wilcock one each for the females.