Fall comes before pride for Lizzie the Cheltenham champ
A YEAR ago jockey Lizzie Kelly ended up in the Cheltenham mud, convinced she would never be a winner at the famous festival.
Yesterday, however, the 24-year- old became the first professional female jockey to ride a winner at the event.
The narrow victory on 5-1 favourite Coo Star Sivola, officially by a neck, left her gasping in wonder as she was hugged by her delighted family.
It was an emotional moment on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, which will peak on Friday with the Gold Cup.
Last year Miss Kelly, from Devon, became the first woman jockey to compete in the Gold Cup in more than 30 years – but fell head first from her horse about a minute out. ‘After last year I made my peace about never becoming a Cheltenham Festival winner,’ she said yesterday. ‘And now I am. Today it was like I had grown up five years. Last year was very educational.’
Miss Kelly, who was taught to ride by her stepfather, turned to horseracing around three years ago when she realised that she didn’t want an office job.
‘You have to take your chances while they’re still there, and I’d have regretted not giving it a go,’ she said.
She has broken a number of barriers in the male-dominated sport. In 2015 she not only beat champion jockey AP McCoy while riding as a student amateur at Cheltenham, but also made history by becoming the first female jockey to win one of the main races at Kempton.
She has blamed less successful female jockeys for not pushing themselves as hard as she did. She also told how she prepares for her races by getting changed in the men’s locker room because the difference in sex simply ‘doesn’t register’ with her.
Two more rides await her this week, but she can relax for a while. ‘Jockeys are categorised according to whether they have won at Cheltenham Festival,’ she said. ‘To have done it after last year is a special feeling.’