Transgender jockey back at the races

A FORMER jockey who stunned the racing world by switching gender returned to Cheltenham yesterday as a woman.

Victoria Smith, 52, who was born as Vince, rode more than 250 winners and previously competed at the festival.

But until this week, Victoria – who spent decades suppressing her true feelings – had “not been confident enough” to visit a race course since 2016. She joined ex-jockey Peter Scudamore and Grand National winning trainer Lucinda Russell in their box yesterday.

Victoria said: “I didn’t know how the racing community was going to take my switch so I distanced myself. I haven’t set foot on a racecourse for two years.

“Yesterday I met probably 100 people who knew me as a man and had never met Victoria before.

“I’m looking forward to meeting all the faces from my past. I’m sure a few of the boys won’t recognise me.”

Victoria, of Newmarket, Suffolk, revealed her incredible transformation in a Mirror exclusive last month and is now in talks to carry on racing as a woman. SUPPORT Victoria yesterday