Nina

She may well be female but unlike hideously overpaid tennis players she is competing in a man's world. Every credit to her.
 
Whatever way you look at it, it's a considerable achievement to - as Euro points out - compete in a man's world at the highest level. Just thought it odd there's been no discussion of the race on the forum at all whatsoever....
 
It would be patronizing to suggest that it is anything other than a top class jockey winning a big race for the first time.
 
Oh for fucks sake, Nina was the subject matter and I don't think it's patronising to suggest that the achievement today merits discussion, especially when there's a lot more to the story with the family significance as well.
 
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Trouble with threads like this is that there is nothing to discuss

Top class jockey wins race shock

I like her a lot (although Hayley is a lot more...whats the word?....) but the woman in a mans world bit is a little old hat.
 
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Except for the fact that were Nina a man there is no way that a jockey of similar talent would still be an amateur.

Superb ride yesterday .
 
It's well within the last ten years, which is within the living memory of everyone on here, that 'girl jockeys'/'lady riders' were drawing the ire of male punters for being second-rate pilots, too weak, not aggressive enough, couldn't ride a winner unless they were on much better horses than their male counterparts, etc., etc., world without end. That mindset barely changed throughout the time that Hayley rode winner after winner through her claim, because it then only gave ground by saying stuff like 'oh, all very well today, but let's see her when she's lost her claim/no-one will give her rides', and as for Lisa Jones, Kirsty Milczarek, Cathy Gannon and Amy Baker - pure tokenism or somebody's pet, not 'real' riders.

As much as one could bang on about female riders like the incredibly brave and talented Sheila Willcox from the 1950s' eventing scene, Pat Smythe from 1940s/50s showjumping, and the unsung women trainers who had to hide behind the names of their head lads or husbands - oh, the shame, the shame of the Jockey Club - one was always told oh, yes, they might've been very good, but they couldn't compete in an actual race against Manly Men, where strength and superior brain power would overcome them every time. No point mentioning Julie Krone, then, as that was the USA, and therefore on another planet. "Our girls" would never be that good, yadda-yadda. No point reminding the snipers that at least 50% of a ride-out string would consist of 'girls' up on the the same type of squirly 2 y.o.'s as the 'boys', or the same bit-boring steeplechasers? No, of course not. They were just work riders, nothing like the quality needed to take part in and actually win races.

So, yes, Nina does deserve all credit, not just for her personal competency as a 'woman rider', but as a very good rider, full stop.

I'll take it as read that this forum's grown up where some others haven't, and that by another ten years' time, women jockeys are viewed no differently - good, bad, or mediocre - as the men. Why, by then, they might even be riding serious Classics contenders!
 
No thoughts on the general race then? A New Story ran another cracking race, Roger might have got a bit carried away in front and took Hughies Grey with him? Would Beautiful Sound have hacked in?

Ah never mind..

Who has died...? Let's update that thread
 
No, good for you, Bobbyjo - the blokes get their own threads from time to time, so it's not patronising to draw attention to a woman who's ground her way through due diligence to some superb wins. No doubt having the family she's got supporting her with technical expertise helps, but that can be said for loads of male riders, too. And in the end, it really doesn't matter how much people tutor you, you do have to have the ability to translate that into action and, one hopes, successful consequence.
 
Nina is very good.

I would also like to put in a mention for the first female rider to convince Irish racegoers that women jockeys can excel. Joanna Morgan came to Ireland from Wales as a complete outsider in racing circles and became one of the top apprentice riders in the country. She went on to have a decent career as a senior pro. This was at a time when no women riders had yet broken through in the UK, although Julie Krone was making news in the US.

Towards the end of her riding career she also took out a training licence. She started off with just a few horses but now has about 50 and is a very successful trainer
 
Joanna Morgan was extremely strong in a finish on lightweight horses and pound for pound, I would put her up there with the best of those jocks that could do under 8st 4lbs.

Nina's been quieter recently with the issues Meade's had. She picked up a good few wins for Charlie Swan a few Summers back but they seem to have dried up too. I wonder will she ride more for Gordon, like her brother.

PS I still have a thank you card from Nina on the mantle piece. Sadlers Wells, pass over that last cigarette before you shut the door :-)
 
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Derek O'Connor 306 rides in the UK and Ireland in the last 5 seasons
Nina Carberry 879 ridesin the UK and Ireland in the last 5 seasons

You are correct that Derek O'Connor has decided to specialise in PTP but Nina has ridden in 660 bumpers in that period so she would never want to turn pro either. O'Connor is a better jockey, no question.
 
Being a top class amateur in a big yard is better on the pocket than being a professional without one of the plum jobs. You get paid the same in a 2m bumper as you do in a 2m novice chase and without the dangers. Fair enough, amateurs only have one ride a day compared to six for the professionals, but Nina was riding every second bumper winner at one stage. That's 500 or a grand in the paw each time, tax free. Not bad. Why would she ever become a professional.
 
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