WOMEN AS JOCKEYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 26 (Supplement)

WOMEN AS JOCKEYS.

ENGLISH LADY'S AMBITION.

NIECE OF AN EARL.

REQUEST FOR A PERMIT.

Mrs. Arthur Heald, nioco of the Earl of Denbigh, has applied for n permit to rido as an amateur jockoy under Jockey Club and National Hunt rules.

This application will test tho eligibility of women to ride in races on equal terms with men, and the decision will sottlo a matter which has been a topic of discussion for years. It was prominently brought forward by tho recent decision of tho National Hunt stewards in tho Beezer incident at Haydock Park. Tho Beezer, in tho White Lodge Steeplechase at, Haydock Park last January, fell at the .last fence, and was remounted by. Miss* Sanday, daughter of tho trainer, who rode it past the winning post. The local stewards referred tho case to • the National Hunt Committee to' decide whether tho horse, having been ridden by. a woman, was entitled to tho second prize. Tho committee decided that it was not. ' ''

In hor application Mrs. Heald points out that she has'ridden in ,16 point-to-point races, and has beon unplaced only three times. Sho has ridden six winners, ,two of these having bcon in open events,

in which men also rode. Mrs. Heald also states that she has ridden, in trials over fences and hurdles for many well-known trainers, including ' P£rcy - Alldcn, Cecil Young, David Dale, L. Hammond nnd J. Hare.

" Mrs. 1 Heald has ridden work for mo on and off for tho past two years," said Mr. Hare. " She is ii very good rider, and'quite capable of holding her own with anybody. She does not mind wlmt stamp of horse she rides. Sho will get up on anything." Women havo'ridden in the Newmarket Town Plate for many years, recent winners including Miss Eileen Joel, daughter of Mr. S. 13. Joel, tho millionaire racehorse owner, Miss -Saunders, . and-. Miss Iris Rickaby,. who is now Mrs. Keith Piggott, wife of the jockey. Mrs. Heald rode in the face two years ago, finishing--second -on— Due do Guise. Her riding weight is seven stone ten. ' T)ie most remarkable- woman .rider was a Mrs. Thornton, who, over 100 years ago, in a private match, beat Frank Buckle, who had won the -Derby five times.

Another private match in which sho rodo-her own horse, , Yingarillo, against Mr. Flint on his horse, Brown Thornvillo, was watched by 100,000 people. This was on York racecourse, in 1804, and was for £IOOO, the distance being four miles. Vingnrillp broko down, leaving Mr. Flint to finish alone. - • -