Since Anna Lee Aldred first got her jockey’s license in 1933, many inspirational women have influenced the sport a great deal. While several women jockeys have greatly loved the racing sport, only a select few have managed to make a big name for themselves.
The month of April is nearing, and so is the anticipation for the Grand National, a sporting event in the UK like no other. An estimated £200 million is gambled on this mega racing event every year. The unique 40 runner race is watched by an estimated 600 million people worldwide with a great number of punters betting each year. That is why, all the major online bookmakers are coming up with the best betting offers. They also hold the licence of the UK Gambling Commission so that your money remains safe and you are always paid your winnings.
Punters are also greatly debating the prospects of different horses for winning the Grand National. The last year’s fourth position holder Blaklion is coming as a top favourite while Last Samuri and Native River are also considered as good contenders for the prestigious title. Total Recall and Double Shuffle also have good chances for the big race at Aintree.
For your Grand National free bets, you can find the best offers from William Hill, Betfred and Paddy Power. Bet £10 Get £30 is what William Hill is offering, while Betfred also is offering the Bet £10 Get £30. Paddy Power is coming up with their most popular offer of £20 risk free bets. However, these offers come with terms and conditions and therefore it is advisable that you give a close reading to their terms and conditions before placing your bets.
Clare Balding
Clare Balding is most famous for being an award-winning broadcaster, journalist and author. She currently appears on Channel 4, BBC Sport and BT Sport.
She was a top amateur flat jockey between the years of 1988 and 1993 and a Champion Lady Rider in 1990. Her famous book My Animals and Other Family tells about her life of growing up in a racing yard.
Her whole family is quite into horse racing. Ian Balding, her father, is a famous British horse trainer who has won at the King George VI Chase, Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe, The Derby and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. While her brother Andrew Balding is also a trainer whose horse Casual Look won the 2003 Epsom Oaks.
Chantal Sutherland
Chantal Sutherland is known as the Danica Patrick of horse racing. Besides a famous jockey in the North American Thoroughbred horse racing, she is also a popular model and television personality. She has appeared often on the reality television show named Jockeys on Animal Planet.
Her first career race win came in 2000 when she won at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. For the two years of 2001 and 2002, she was voted the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.
She has won so many major races like the Star Shoot Stakes, Ashley T. Chole Handicap, Silver Deputy Stakes, Duchess Stakes and Eclipse Stakes etc. She reached the 1,000 wins plateau in 2017 to join the ranks of Emma Jayne Wilson and Francine Villeneuve.
Kayla Stra
Kayla Stra is the popular Australian jockey who began her racing career in Australia and later competed in the United States as well. She has made several television appearances on the reality show named Jockeys on Animal Planet.
Kayla Stra was quite interested in horses from very early period. On seeing her passion, her parents had brought her a pony when she was just 8 years old. She also worked at racing stables during her adolescence before she managed to get her own certificate in racing.
Her biggest victory in Australia came in 2005 when she won the City of Marion Stakes aboard Navy Shaker. Stra has over 1716 career wins to her name. In 2013, she returned to professional horse racing after her son Brys Headley had been born in 2012.
Julie Krone
Julie Krone was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan in 1963. She became very famous in 1993 when she won the Belmont Stakes on Colonial Affair to become the first female jockey to win an event in the U.S. Triple Crown. She also has the honour of being the first woman to be included in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2000 and has been included in the National Women’s Hall of Fame and Cowgirl Hall of Fame. She won a Breeders’ Cup race in 2003 to become the first female jockey to achieve such a feat.
Venetia Williams
Venetia Williams is more famous for being a trainer than a jockey. She was forced to retire early in 1988 when she suffered a broken neck. Her horses have won her the Grand National, the Hennessy Gold Cup and the King George VI Chase.
