A true legend of horse racing, Hayley Turner is probably the coolest female jockey ever. Her easy demeanor and charming personality make her stand out in the horse racing community. This girl is adored by British race-riding fans (and not only!).
Who Is Hayley Turner?
One of the most well-known and appreciated female jockeys worldwide, Hayley was born in England, Nottinghamshire, just a short hop from Nottingham Racecourse. Her mum, Kate Turner, a mother of six daughters, was a horse riding coach, so Hayley learned to ride at a very young age. Then, she took a course at the Northern Racing College and started riding for local trainer Mark Polglase. After that, she started working as an apprentice for Michael Bell in Newmarket, Suffolk. Her first race happened on March 27, 2000 at Southwell. Too bad, the start was a disaster. Her horse broke a leg and was put down. Hayley never made it through the race. Her first winning ride was her eighth one (we will discuss it later).
Hayley is considered one of the greatest female jockeys ever. She is a pet for horse racing aficionados and punters who enjoy betting on horses.
Hayley Turner’s Career in Horse Racing
Hayley’s career has been one rocky road. She experienced a lot of ups and downs while being on and off the saddle.
Early Years and Breakthroughs
In the early years of her career, Hayley spent some time working as an apprentice in Dubai. After this practice, her riding skills started to attract a lot of attention from the race-riding community. In 2005, she became the first female champion apprentice, and it was actually her last year as an apprentice. In 2008, she became the first female jockey to ride 100 horse winners within a calendar year.
First Major Successes
We cannot forget about 2009 when Hayley suffered a major head injury (we will discuss it in the following sections). Well, the next season, she came back with a confident air. She rode a winner for the Queen, making history as the first female jockey to do so. It was almost inevitable that another record would be broken in 2011. Hayley Turner became the first woman to ride a Group 1 winner when she partnered with David Simcock’s Dream Ahead to win the July Cup at Newmarket. She did it once more, less than six weeks later, at the Nunthorpe Stakes in York.
Career Milestones and Achievements
In November 2023, after riding to her historic 1,000th victory at Chelmsford, Turner admitted that she was honored to be a trendsetter for other female jockeys. Riding her first winner at Pontefract back in 2000, the 40-year-old became the first female rider in the UK to reach such a milestone with a comfortable victory that seemed effortless to her.
Relationships With Trainers and Horses
Hayley worked with lots of trainers during her impressive career. However, she is best known for a collaboration with Michael Bell, a Derby-winning trainer based in Newmarket. Being an easy-going person, she usually gets on well with trainers and horses. According to Turner, racing horses in the UK are taken great care of. She denies a popular belief that horse racing is a cruel sport.
Hayley Turner’s Impact on Women in Horse Racing
Hayley is a role model for young female jockeys. Despite her slim frame, this woman has amazing willpower and a clear vision of the sport.
(Source: https://www.racingtv.com/news/six-of-the-best-hayley-turner-triumphs)
Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Sport
According to Hayley, gender is no longer an issue in the race-riding world. By the way, she often meets with male colleagues for drinks; however, these meetups are short due to their busy working schedules.
Unfortunately, Turner is certain that no female jockey is going to win a major championship anytime soon. Her reasoning goes beyond discrimination issues, though. According to Hayley, there are currently not many girls who are skilled enough for such a victory.
Role Model and Inspiration
Hayley is the ultimate inspiration for young female jockeys. She was some sort of a pathfinder back then and made it easier for the new generation of female jockeys to follow into the sport. She did set the standard for women and managed to prove that girls can be amazing jockeys and pave their way to success.
Hayley Turner’s Riding Style and Skills
Turner lives and breathes horse racing. Her life schedule is mostly circled around her workouts and tournaments. No wonder her skills are getting even more impressive with every race.
Technique and Strategy
Thanks to her slim frame and long-term experience in professional horse racing, Hayley’s technique is truly impeccable. She is known as one of the most gracious female jockeys in the world. But her main strength is determination. She doesn’t share much about her riding strategy but she always admits that her competitive spirit never lets her relax and be happy with current achievements.
Mental Toughness and Focus
Turner is all about mental toughness. In 2009, she had a major accident on the gallops that left her with a serious head injury. She was suspended from riding for a year. However, she managed to appeal the ban and went back to horse riding.
In 2015, though, she decided to take a sabbatical. Hayley claims that she was pushing herself too hard and totally lost her mojo. It’s next to impossible to win races when you are feeling blue and depressed. It took Turner two long years to discover her way back to the race track. She admits she has learnt a lot about herself during these two years and understood that sometimes you have to go easy on yourself and say “no.” Now, she is enjoying her career to the max without putting too much pressure on herself.
After making a full-time comeback to racing in Britain in 2018, Hayley immediately made history again. For the first time in thirty-two years, a female jockey won at Royal Ascot in the Sandringham Handicap.
Hayley Turner’s Legacy and Future in Horse Racing
As we’ve mentioned earlier, Hayley has recently earned a record-breaking victory when she won her 1,000th race. She is the ultimate role model for female jockeys in Britain and abroad. Turner’s contribution to the acceptance of female riders has been so significant that no one is anymore surprised when a female jockey wins a major race.
On top of professional achievements, Turner is a prominent media figure and influencer. She has commented on numerous horse racing events worldwide, and her insights are appreciated by the public and the experts.
Fun Facts and Lesser-Known Details About Hayley Turner
- Hayley is a boxing fan and enjoys visiting boxing matches and playing a game of darts.
- She is a dog lover and has a dog named Dave.
- Turner has never been married and we have no information about any current partner in her life. However, she often admits that she wants to have kids.
- She got her first pony, Wallace, at the age of fourteen. Once, she fell off him seven times in one hour. However, he taught Hayley how to ride.
- Her favorite racecourse in the UK is Ascot. We are not surprised!
Conclusion
Hayley Turner is definitely a high flyer in the race-riding world. Loved by colleagues and aficionados of the sport, she seems to effortlessly glide through her professional career. We decided to share more information about this amazing jockey, so that you see for yourself that Turner’s path has not been easy at all.
FAQ
How many races has Hayley Turner won in her career?
She has won over 1000 races. It is a unique result.
What was Hayley Turner’s first big win?
Hayley’s first win took place in Pontefract in 2000. She was riding a horse named Generate.
Has Hayley Turner won the Champion Jockey title?
Yes. In 2005, she shared the title with Saleem Golam.
How did Hayley Turner break into professional racing?
She started riding horses at a very early age and then moved to Suffolk to be an apprentice for Michael Bell. This is how Turner’s professional career started.
What other jockeys has Hayley Turner worked with during her career?
She competed with a lot of jockeys. She did not work with any since jockeys compete on their own, not in a team or a partnership.
(Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/racing/2023/11/21/hayley-turner-first-woman-jockey-win-1000-races/)
<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vs_WNArhNCw?si=su0RAMUsaox9JELj” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
