THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN
26-09-2016
An exciting new addition to the amateur racing calendar has been added by kind agreement with the BHA and Kelso Racecourse.
On Thursday 29th December Kelso Racecourse will host the AJA Handicap Hurdle over 2m 6f (for 4 year olds upwards rated 0-115) with a total prize fund of £6,000 added including a fourth prize.
We are most grateful for this new race to look forward to. Come and enjoy a bit of pre-Hogmanay racing in Scotland!
22-09-2016
In 2005 the Women of the Future Awards was founded to recognise and celebrate successful young women aged 35 or under from a variety of backgrounds who reside in Great Britain.
It has been announced that thanks to the generous agreement of the Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Lara Sawaya, the HH Sheikh Mansoor Racing Festival will for the first time sponsor the Sport category of the Women of the Future Awards. As a result, 2016’s nominees will includes a selection of lady jockeys who have shown talent and overcome significant challenges in their working lives.
“The HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival champions Arabian racing in the UK and our British-based sponsorships form an integral part of our global promotion of the sport and its athletes,” commented Lara Sawaya. “Our extensive programme of races aims to support the development of young jockeys of all abilities and gender. The HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship provides new challenges to both male and female Apprentice riders which helps to support and develop their careers, while the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship is dedicated solely to female jockeys and offers a highly competitive race platform together with training, mentorship and professional guidance under the directives of our patron HH Sheikh Mansoor.
We are proud to align the Festival with such a prestigious awards ceremony and roster of sponsors, and wish our nominees the best of luck in the initial judging stages.”
Many thanks to Lara Sawaya for this fantastic opportunity to promote our lady jockeys, all of whom have excelled when riding in the HH Sheikh Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship. We are all most grateful to Lara Sawaya in approving nominations:
Page Fuller (2015 Champion ARO Lady Rider) who WON in Belgium 2015 when representing GB in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship;
Joanna Mason (2016 Champion ARO Lady Rider) who was only just beaten in the smallest of margins in a three-way photo finish this year when representing GB in Texas in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship on her first ride back after a back operation following injury;
Alice Mills (ex-amateur now professional) who WON in Bahrain this year when representing GB in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship, again a first ride back after being on the sidelines through injury;
Becky Smith who WON in Texas 2015 in her first ride back after a long lay-off from injury in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship
and Catherine Walton who WON in Belgium 2016 in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship when riding an Arabian horse for the first time.
Huge congratulations to all of the nominees of whom we are proud and we wish them all the very best of luck! We would also like to thank ARO’s Genny Haynes team for all of their help and support throughout the Arabian racing season.
21-09-2016
Congratulations to Gary Beaumont on a great WIN today when riding against professionals at Perth, partnering the front running 12 year old CLAUDE CARTER in the PKAVS charity hurdle for Alistair Whillans.
Having made all, CLAUDE CARTER kept on strongly all the way to the line to win by 4 lengths. This was Gary’s second win aboard CLAUDE CARTER, having enjoyed his first career win over hurdles with him at Market Rasen in August, winning that day by a head! What a great partnership. Well done to winning connections!
21-09-2016
Congratulations to Catherine Walton on winning Beverley’s last race for 2016 yesterday when she enjoyed her 3rd win of the season aboard LEAN ON PETE for Ollie Pears.
Receiving much praise from TV coverage for her expert handling of crossing from Stall 13 to the inside rail early on to take a leading position, the partnership made all and despite the efforts of Emily Bullock on RUBIS who tracked them ahead of the field, LEAN ON PETE kept finding more to win by 2 lengths from RUBIS with Gary Beaumont and GALILEE CHAPEL a neck back in 3rd.
Well done Catherine and winning connections!
18-09-2016
Congratulations to John Dawson on winning today at Uttoxeter when riding VIC’S LAST STAND for Keith Reveley against pros in the Sentinel Green ‘Un Handicap Hurdle.
Prominent in the latter stages of the race but with the leading QUEBEC and Harry Bannister in his sights, John managed to get up on the line in spite of having to kick his foot out of an iron when his tack started to slip dramatically (see pic)! He won by a head to make it a hat trick with VIC’S LAST STAND and now leads the Gentlemen jump jockeys championship tables for the season with 4 wins. Well done John!
15-09-2016
Great to see Lisa O’Neill makes the Racing Post front page today after her brilliant win yesterday of the Kerry National at Listowel!
Familiar to many internationally after her Duindigt win in the HH Sheikha Fatima Ladies World Championship 2015, Lisa also won the Bank Lyon Ladies Diamond Hurdle last year at Cartmel Racecourse here in GB. Many congratulations Lisa!
Lisa produced WRATH OF TITANS to challenge RIGHTVILLE BOY at the second last where the winner’s stablemate LORD SCOUNDREL (winner of the Galway Plate) fell. RIGHTVILLE BOY held a narrow lead at the last but WRATH OF TITANS rallied to win by 5 lengths.
Following her victory Lisa said “It was very good of Gordon and Mr O’Leary to give me the ride. Wrath of Titans travelled very well and jumped smartly. He seemed to really enjoy himself. It’s a brilliant feeling to have won such a big race for the yard. I’ve ridden 6 point-to-point winners but that’s my first winner over fences against professionals. I’m absolutely delighted, and its great to ride such a big winner.”
Winning trainer Gordon Elliott added “Lisa gave him a peach of a ride. I’m thrilled for her and its great to repay her a bit for all the work she does. She does some pre-training for me, she works in the office, she will lead one up at the races and she can drive them to the races as well. She’s a really hard worker and a big part of our team. I’d no worries about giving her the ride. We decided to go for this race with him about a month ago.”
12-09-2016
Many congratulations to Amie Waugh on making such a good job of representing GB this weekend in the European Ladies Championships.
Amie made it a winning ride at Kincsem Racecourse in Budapest on Saturday aboard INFLAGRANT and nearly came home with a double having gone into the lead with ELEGANT PRINCESS in Bratislava on Sunday.
Sadly the weight cloth slipped, the lead fell out and Amie was subsequently disqualified! Nevertheless she had a great weekend and many thanks go to our friends in Bratislava and Budapest for this great opportunity for the girls! Well done Amie!
12-09-2016
One of the best finishes of the day was enjoyed at Chester on Friday by Hawick’s rising teenage star Bruce Lynn when partnering CLASSIC SENIORITY for Marjorie Fife in the gentlemen’s handicap over 7 1/2 furlongs.
Slowly into stride, Bruce was happy to bide his time at the rear of the field led by Gary Beaumont and RALPHY BOY. Bruce then made a bold run up the inner and came with a sustained challenge inside the last couple of furlongs for CLASSIC SENIORITY to hold on by a head in a three-way photo with Simon Walker 2nd on ECHO OF LIGHTNING and Matt Ennis with CHARACTER ONESIE another head back in 3rd.
Chester is a notoriously tricky track for anyone to handle and this was a great ride from Bruce in his first visit there. His coolness in the saddle received much well deserved praise from the attending press. Congratulations to Bruce and to winning connections!
08-09-2016
Many congratulations to Richard Patrick who not only rode his first winner under Rules at Uttoxeter today but also in the process denied champion jockey Dicky Johnson the winner!
A photo finish resulted in Richard winning by a head on DEFINITE FUTURE for Kerry Lee.
Many congratulations to winning connections!
08-09-2016
This weekend sees the annual European Championship for Lady Amateur Riders kindly hosted by our friends in Bratislava and Budapest.
We are delighted that Amie Waugh will be representing Great Britain. Amie is having a fantastic season here at home both on the Flat and also over jumps, with 3 wins so far putting her in 3rd place for the Ladies Flat Championship (behind Serena Brotherton (7) and Joanna Mason (5)). Amie also lies in 2nd place for the Ladies Jump Championship with 3 wins behind Emma Todd (4) and enjoyed a great ride at Perth last night to finish 2nd.
There are 2 races in Budapest on Saturday and another 2 races in Bratislava on Turf on Sunday. Good luck Amie!