THAT Lucy Alexander describes a serious concussion as “just part of the job” says a lot for her toughness. It is a personality trait that has served her well, though, and has led her to a point where she finds herself as the only female professional jockey in Scotland. However, the 2015/16 season has been one of mixed fortunes for the 25-year-old from Fife.
The jump jockey was in good form, riding 18 winners before a fall at Doncaster last month resulted in an enforced break which has only just come to an end.
Alexander’s injury list is, like most jockeys’, not insubstantial and includes a broken collarbone, a fractured jaw and several other concussions to add to her most recent one. “It’s very frustrating to be out because you see all these horses winning that you could be riding,” she says.
“When I fall, it happens so quickly that I don’t know what’s going on. Luckily, the falls have never knocked my confidence but the injuries are definitely the worst part of the job. It’s just one of those things, though – everyone falls, that’s jump racing.”
Alexander cannot remember a time when she was not around horses. Her father, Nick, of Kinneston Racing, is a renowned trainer and Alexander has ridden since she was a small child. Female jockeys may be more commonplace nowadays, but growing up in the 90s, becoming a professional barely crossed her mind. “Horses have always been part of my life but I didn’t ever dream of being a professional jockey,” she says.
“I didn’t think it was an option for me because I was a girl. I thought that I’d do it as an amateur and then go to university just because that’s what’s expected. So to now be able to do it as my job is really great.”
Alexander turned professional in 2011 and while she admits to having had some hesitation about the move, it has most certainly paid off. “My agent suggested turning professional because I’d been doing well as an amateur and there was an opening there for me,” she says.
“I really wasn’t sure how it’d work out but a lot of people supported me. Being the first female professional wasn’t something I thought about at the time but there’s not many female jump jockeys across Britain, never mind in Scotland.
“That’s not necessarily because they’re not good enough, it’s just not really thought of as a career option for a woman.”
Alexander has proved her class year in, year out since joining the professional ranks. Impressively, she was crowned champion conditional in the 2012/13 season, becoming the first woman to win the title. This is, she says, still the highlight of her career.
Despite her success, it’s not all been plain sailing, though. The success of female jockeys south of the border has illustrated that women are capable of performing on the highest stage but Alexander admits that this has not necessarily changed everyone’s view in the sport.
“There are some trainers who would just never use a girl,” she says. “It’s always been a man’s thing, being a jockey. Some owners too, especially the more old fashioned ones, just can’t get their heads around female jockeys but that’s just the way it is – everyone’s got their own opinion.
“It’s getting much better though, because people are seeing that if the girls get a good enough horse then they can do the job just as well as anybody else. If you get the results then you show everyone that you’re good enough.”
That Alexander chose to be a jump jockey has made it even tougher. The likelihood of getting injured is higher than on the flat which, she believes, may lose her some rides. “I think some people don’t like using female jockeys over jumps because they don’t want to be the one getting a girl smashed up,” she says.
“I’ve been told this – that some people don’t want to get a girl hurt. That’s not everyone’s view but it is of some. It can sometimes annoy me when people are like that but you have to just accept it.
“I’d like to get more opportunities but it’s very competitive – that’s the same for everyone. I’ve been lucky with my dad training though, his owners have always been really supportive which has been great.”
Sport, and women’s sport in particular, needs individuals like Alexander who are willing to do the hard work and forge the way.
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