Congratulations to Matt Ennis on a great ride when winning the first of this year’s AJA Novice Flat Amateur Riders races at Catterick on 17th July aboard Ruth Carr’s course specialist BE PERFECT. Holding his horse up until making steady headway from about half a mile out, the partnership stayed on well to score by 3 lengths from Joey Dunne and Gavin Cromwell’s SHEILA’S EMPIRE with Joshua Scott and OROBAS 3rd.
Congratulations also to Emily Bullock who led up the winner and won Best Turned Out!
Many thanks to Kim Tinkler, BHA Jockey Coach, for sharing her expertise and conducting the course walk and jockey de-brief. Thanks also to Catterick for accommodating this race, the 1st in the 8 race series.
Well done Matt who now leads the tables with the next leg of the series taking place this Wednesday at Leicester, the biggest field of the day with 16 declared.
A reminder that this series is for any amateur jockey who has ridden no more than 3 winners under rules at 1st April 2019, with point-to-point and Arab racing wins disregarded. Jockeys are invited to walk the course with a BHA Jockey Coach 90 minutes before each race and to attend the de-brief following weighing in.
Beverley Racecourse hosted the 28th running of the Dorothy Laird Memorial pro-am ladies race on 16th July, remembering a remarkable woman authoress and founder member of the Lady Jockeys Association.
Congratulations to Amy Collier on her 2nd winner of the season when enjoying repeat success with Karen Tutty’s THORNTOUN CARE on 16th July having partnered him to victory at Haydock in early June.
Held up until making headway a couple of furlongs out, Amy switched to the outer and came with a strong run inside the final furlong staying on well to snatch victory from Emily Easterby in the final strides, winning by a head. Well done Amy!
Congratulations to Pat Millman on getting off the mark for this season at Newbury recently when scoring with his father’s RAGSTONE VIEW in the Newbury Nuffield Health Gym Handicap on 11th July. Making steady progress from about 2 furlongs from home, Ragstone View ran on well to win by 3/4 of a length from Becky Smith and LUNA MAGIC.
It is with great sadness that the Amateur Jockeys Association learned of Lucy Horner’s untimely death last weekend and we send our deepest condolences to her mother and family.
With a military background as Captain in the Royal Irish Regiment and winner of Sandown’s Grand Military Gold Cup in 2000 on her own NOYAN, Lucy was a huge supporter of military racing and gave Jamie Snowden his first Grand Military success on FOLLY ROAD when she was unavailable to ride herself due to military commitments.
Lucy enjoyed her best season as Champion Lady Amateur NH Jockey in 2008/09 with a seasonal total of 11 wins under rules and she was also runner-up in 2010/11 to Gina Andrews.
Lucy was a pioneer of the UK’s lady jump jockeys and rode a total of 28 winners under rules at home as well as point-to-point winners. She also represented the UK abroad riding in Ireland in 2008 and in the USA both independently in Kentucky (3 Flat and 5 timber wins) and as part of the Fegentri series in 2010. She also won in cross-country races at Le Touquet and Dieppe.
A serious eye problem interrupted Lucy’s riding career in 2009 and brought it to a premature end in 2011 but she will always be remembered as a talented lady jump jockey who helped to forge a path for the betterment of future female weighing room colleagues.
Congratulations to reigning champion lady jockey Becky Smith aboard Mark Loughnane’s BLUE MEDICI at Nottingham tonight when he got his head in front for the first time in his career! Well done Becks!
Many congratulations to Jess Llewellyn, a graduate of pony racing, who enjoyed a memorable first ever career win yesterday winning the Tapis Libre Joanna Mason Ladies Derby (named in honour of the 4 time winners) at Epsom with her grandfather Bernard Llewellyn’s NABHAN.
Jessica bided her time to produce her horse with a perfectly timed run to gain the upper hand in a thrilling finish, denying Hannah Welch aboard FRENCH MIX by a neck, with Emily Bullock 1 1/4 lengths third.
Congratulations to Abbie McCain who opened her account for the season with REMEMBER ROCKY enjoying his third Ayr success for Lucy Normile on Friday night. The partnership led inside the final furlong to win by a neck, denying Emma Sayer aboard JACKHAMMER.
Well done also to Rachel Taylor who survived a serious stumble a furlong from home (as shown above) but managed to regain momentum to storm home with Michael Dods’ FIRBY only beaten 3/4 of a length and was unlucky not to finish closer.
Congratulations to champion jockey Joanna Mason who enjoyed victory at Ripon on Thursday riding for Steve Gollings aboard NEVADA.
Tracking the leaders of the 9 runner field , Jo took up the lead a furlong from home to stay on well and win the Quilter Private Client Advisers Ladies’ Derby by 1 3/4 length. Well done all!
Good luck to Lady NH Champion Tabitha Worsley who has her first rides as a professional today at Uttoxeter, following in the footsteps of previous lady champion amateur jockeys Bridget Andrews (2014/15), Bryony Frost (2015/16) and Page Fuller (2016/17 and 2017/18).
The Amateur Jockeys Association are delighted to announce the return of the popular Novice Flat Amateur Series this summer, now in its 7th year and sponsored for the first time by the AJA. The Series is open to amateur jockeys who are AJA members and have ridden no more than 3 winners under the Rules of Racing as of 1st April this year.
Races are scheduled as follows:
17th July Catterick Bridge
24th July Leicester
31st July Redcar
16th August Nottingham
21st August Carlisle
26th August Ripon
30th August Thirsk
7th October Royal Windsor
The Amateur Jockeys Association manages the series in consultation with the British Horseracing Authority. In addition a BHA Jockey Coach walks the course with all participating jockeys prior to each race and follows each race with a full de-brief.
This is a points series with 10 points awarded to each winner, 6 for 2nd, 4 for 3rd and 1 point for also-rans.
Sarah Oliver, CEO of the AJA, said “This training series is eagerly awaited year on year by our novice riders and we are delighted to take on this sponsorship ourselves after 6 years of Betfair’s support. Past amateurs who have ridden in this series include Hollie Doyle, Megan Nicholls, Poppy Bridgwater and Ellie MacKenzie as well as jumping’s Bryony Frost, Page Fuller, Charlie Todd and Connor Brace. A series which offers racing opportunities to relatively inexperienced jockeys under the watchful eye of a jockey coach is invaluable and we greatly appreciate the kind co-operation of all racecourses involved.”
