MY career has really taken off in the last three months; riding seven winners during that period.

Having just gotten going prior to the lockdown, I initially struggled once racing resumed but thankfully I have enjoyed better fortunes lately. With nine winners on the board for the calendar year, I am hopeful that I can add a few more before the Christmas break.

Racing is in my blood, as both sides of my family were involved in the industry. My maternal grandmother bred horses so my mother always had an interest. Paco Boy, now a successful stallion, was one of the better horses that my grandmother bred.

My father, Ger, rode in point-to-points and later trained for a time. Sadly, he died when I was just nine, so we had to get rid of the horses after that. If anything, it actually made me more determined to one day forge a career as a jockey. I think it sparked the interest in me and gave me the want to do it.

Soon after, I started taking riding lessons at a local equestrian school and it just went from there. I bought a Connemara pony and rode that into my early teens. In school, I did my Junior Certificate, then took a year out to go to RACE in transition year.

Apprentice

After completing the year at RACE [including a work placement with Johnny Murtagh], I returned to school and did my Leaving Certificate.

During that year, I also rode out in Eddie Lynam’s at weekends and school holidays where I learned a lot. Later, I moved on to work for John McConnell part-time, which quickly became full-time after a brief flirtation with college.

Initially I went in without a licence but after a while John approached me to ask if I would be interested in signing on as an apprentice.

To be honest, I always wanted to be a jockey. Being a girl was never something that I dwelled on; as far as I was concerned, we are all athletes competing for rides on the same horses. I can’t deny the existence of prejudice in the sport, but I try to remain positive and concentrate on preforming to the best of my ability.

I grew up watching National Hunt racing from an early age and felt inspired by the success of Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh.

They rode with such determination and strength. Leading jockeys Hollie Doyle and Rachael Blackmore are proof that female riders can compete with the boys. I think for his part, John is very fair in that sense, so provided you work hard and show that you want it, he will give you the opportunities.

Opportunities

When I started to race-ride, like most jockeys, it took me a time to find my feet. I suppose it was all new to me, so that first season[2018] was more of a learning curve.

Warren O’Connor had a big part to play with his coaching sessions on the simulator and valuable advice which I still avail of regularly.

In 2019, I rode my first winner aboard Magi Gal at Navan and as I began to get more opportunities, I could see the improvement in my race-riding. Earlier this year, I rode two winners relatively close to each other and it appeared that things were finally getting going for me.

However, the lockdown put an end to that run of success and I had to start all over again when racing resumed. Fortunately, I have been able to get on some nice horses in recent months and that in turn has led to 10 winners in total.

I recorded my first winner for an outside trainer on a mare called All The Mollies just last month for Irish National winning trainer Dot Love.

John McConnell has been a great help to my career; a fantastic boss to work for. I have learned a lot in the last three years at Rockview Stables. John is also a qualified vet and working for him has given me an insight into that side of things in the yard as well. He has never been afraid to put me up on horses and once they started to run well and win races it was easy to get the owners to give me the rides.

I have to thank the Rockview Racing Syndicate and all the owners in the yard without whose support and loyalty I wouldn’t be in this position. Ruaidhri Tierney is a brilliant agent, he works hard to help me receive opportunities from other trainers also.

Fortunate

Having got to the point where I am riding winners and enjoying race-riding, I won’t be happy unless I can make a success of my career as a jockey.

Although I am fully aware of the better opportunities and prospects for female jockeys in the likes of America and Australia, I am determined to give it every chance in Ireland as so far it has gone very well.

I know how fortunate I am to have the backing of a trainer like John without whom this would not be possible. I would never rule out the possibility of moving abroad at some stage in the future but right now I couldn’t be happier.

To be fair, the Irish calendar caters for both apprentices and female jockeys with restricted apprentice races and lady rider races; I also feel the 10 winners or less is a great initiative which gives those of us still learning the trade the opportunity to compete on a more level playing field.

At the same time, it is a great experience to be able to ride alongside some of the leading jockeys in the world in open competition and test oneself. For their part, the more senior riders have always been very helpful and supportive of me as they are with every apprentice. Shane Foley, Rory Cleary, Colin Keane and Gary Carroll who all ride regularly for John have always kept an eye out for me and given me advice.

Siobhan Rutledge was in conversation with John O’Riordan