“SHE could easily be a champion jockey, why not?” said Frankie Dettori after Hollie Doyle landed five winners at one meeting at Windsor in August. Hollie has already finished as the highest ever woman in the championship rankings – fourth, ahead of former treble champions Frankie himself, Silvestre de Sousa and Ryan Moore. That’s just one of the records Hollie has smashed this year. Fastest female to 50 wins in a season, most winners by a woman in a calendar year (117, beating her own record), first woman to land a five-timer – and now, a nomination for Sunday’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) award (20 December, #votehollie), alongside another record-breaking speed merchant, Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton.
A female champion jockey is now a realistic prospect – the first since records began in 1840.
“It’s an honour for someone as prolific as Frankie to say that,” Hollie says. “I’d love to be champion, but it’s not something I’d considered as I didn’t think I’d be good enough.”
Her talent is not in question. The second half of 2020 passed in a blur for Hollie as she sped from one monumental first to another: her first Royal Ascot winner (Scarlet Dragon); first Group winner (Dame Malliot); then first Group One winner (Glen Shiel) – attracting the interest of Derby-winning owner Imad Al Sagar, for whom she has been retained since August. Following a Breeders’ Cup debut in Kentucky in November, her latest accolade was becoming the first female to win at Hong Kong’s International Jockeys’ Championship last week.
Denne historien er fra December 17, 2020-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra December 17, 2020-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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'Sorry, but I wasn't feeling it'
Fresh from the opening meet, Tessa Waugh hasn't quite yet been bitten by the hunting bug. Without the crisp autumnal air and cheek-pinching cold she hoped for, it's a sluggish start
New pair pull off a win
A former European Championships pony is on form with his new rider, while elsewhere former showjumpers and eventers take ribbons
Lording it over the rest
Horses who have returned from injury, a second generation homebred and a long format specialist score on the final weekend of the British season
Smith hits flying form
A \"her way or no way\" mare helps Zoe Smith to an impressive ribbon haul and a rider beats his own boss to the top spot
Jankorado hits the jackpot
Paul Sims is triumphant despite his interrupted jump-off preparation and a borrowed horse comes up trumps
Peanut
From \"dangerous, scary\" to hedge-hopping brilliance, hunting has been the making of this unstable but very lovable equine character
She's a corker
Communication, says long-standing and highly respected Belvoir master Lady Sarah McCorquodale, is the key to all, as Catherine Austen discovers
Access all areas Cavalier Centre
The Cavalier Centre is a fully accessible, state-of-the-art equestrian centre designed to improve lives through horse-based activities. Ellie May Forrester pays a visit
'Use it or lose it'
Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity
A new way forward
Worm control in horses is vital, but established methods will not remain effective for much longer. Tim Mair FRCVS explains why and how we need to change
