Karen Wiltshire: Pioneering female jockey on overcoming abuse and ridicule

Regardless of the victory, probabilities 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 mentioned she was not stunned there had been a current 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 mentioned.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 considerations inside the sport since 2018. It didn’t say what number of instances had been confirmed, however practically half the stories have 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 predominant racing faculties have been feminine, however solely 15% {of professional} jockeys have been girls.”I believed by now 30% {of professional} jockeys could be girls, and you do not see many ladies having massive races within the Classics just like the Derby,” mentioned Wiltshire.”I would 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 happy 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 may very well be performed. Lots of people wish to go to see girls racing now and folks realise they’ve comparable talents,” she mentioned.



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