Karen Wiltshire: Pioneering feminine jockey on overcoming abuse and mock


Regardless of the victory, possibilities of gaining one other remained restricted.

The next 12 months she ended her profession after 18 rides, which included one runner-up spot at Epsom and three third-placed finishes.

Whereas alternatives have improved, Wiltshire stated she was not stunned there had been a latest high-profile case of sexism in British racing, with Robbie Dunne finishing a 10-month ban two years in the past for bullying fellow jockey Bryony Frost, who now rides in France.

“She was very courageous in taking it additional. I simply hope it has not hindered her alternatives with trainers over right here,” she stated.

Final 12 months the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) unveiled a technique to enhance security and wellbeing after revealing it had investigated greater than 350 safeguarding and human welfare issues inside the sport since 2018. It didn’t say what number of instances had been confirmed, however practically half the reviews had been involved with both sexual misconduct or bullying.

The BHA has additionally launched initiatives to encourage girls to remain within the sport after statistics confirmed that three-quarters of graduates from the 2 important racing colleges had been feminine, however solely 15% {of professional} jockeys had been girls.

“I believed by now 30% {of professional} jockeys can be girls, and you do not see many ladies having huge races within the Classics just like the Derby,” stated Wiltshire.

“I might wish to see 5 to 10% additional prize cash for trainers who use feminine jockeys within the Classics.”

Wiltshire is now a health teacher at her personal gymnasium in Hampshire and says her grown-up daughter Lara is amazed and pleased with her story – a profession which noticed her experience towards nice jockeys like Lester Piggott, Willie Carson, Pat Eddery and Walter Swinburn.

“That first win proved it might be achieved. Lots of people wish to go to see girls racing now and other people realise they’ve comparable skills,” she stated.

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