Horse Racing: Hayley Turner Hits the Century Mark
Written by playerpress.com, Monday January 12 2009
Hayley Turner first attracted attention when the personable young woman was an apprentice jockey who was interviewed on the BBC in 2005. Since then she has garnered notoriety for guiding winning mounts home. She is so successful that in 2008 she won 100 races. Hayley became the first woman to accomplish this feat and with her expertise in the saddle she may break her own record.
While apprenticing under Michael Bell in Godolphin stables she was named ‘05’s “Lady Jockey of the Year”. Notably, she was the first female to ride for this prestigious stable. Although she was lauded with the above title, she still had to train the horses and muck out the stables. Even though by the time she was apprenticing at Godolphin she had already recorded 61 career wins.
In a male dominated sport Turner was patient and made the most of her chances. Oftentimes she would receive a mount on the day of the race and be required to cover the distance to the venue. In one year she logged over 10,000 miles on her car. All of it was in the UK, so it is obvious that Turner was willing to go the miles necessary to race.
The now 25 year old rider continued to work and study at her craft. Trainer Bell believes she should be ranked higher than her current 31 position and praises her work ethic and her ability to never become overwhelmed or rely upon gender when facing her fellow jockey’s. While Turner may be furthering the cause of female athletes she does not see herself in a feminist role and never equates her success or failure to biological differences.
She sees herself as evolving in her sport. However, 2008 was a watershed year that has put her in the record books. Even Julie Krone who rode 3,704 winners never racked up 100 in a year. While Turner understands her accomplishment she is quick to point out that she does not have a tenth of the wins Krone recorded.
Still, there is no arguing her impact on the sport. Prior to her historic year in ’08 she set the record for most wins by a UK born female jockey with 56 in 2007. Although it was apparent as ’08 progressed that she would break her own record the 100th victory did not come until December 31. So, she had to wait until year’s end to reach triple figures.
Luckily Turner does possess the work ethic admired by Bell because she needed it down the stretch of her historic run. On December 28 she rode two races and led her mounts to wins in both events. The following day she missed out at Wolverhampton prompting the need for the end of the year heroics.
Refusing to rest on the laurels of the achievement Turner is busy in 2009 looking for more rides. Many are hoping she will enter the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in March. Irish jockey Nina Carberry finished second in the event last year and believes Turner could surpass her place finish with a win.
Through it all Turner continues to insist that she is just one of the boys. Perhaps that is so, but she did prove herself better than the boys 100 times last year.
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