Female jockey proves fortune favours the bold as a brave decision pays off for her career

Sophie Ralston wrote to the Racing Post letters page, courageously stating her case as to why she deserves more opportunities.

When it comes to life decisions you're often presented with two courses of action, the passive route or the active one. Indeed, having opportunities pass you by can often lead to frustration and embitterment, but how do you react to these scenarios? Sophie Ralston, a 26-year-old jockey, chose to speak her mind when she felt she was being overlooked in her profession and the gamble massively paid off. Sophie wrote a letter to prospective trainers asking them to 'take a chance' on her and what happened next was astounding.

Two wins in three days ✅ Same horse ✅ Same racecourse ✅

Well done to Sophie Ralston and Oeil De Tigre ? pic.twitter.com/VIFwBGEkJL — Goodwood Racecourse (@Goodwood_Races) June 10, 2018

Earlier this month, she submitted the impassioned letter to Racing Post imploring racehorse trainers for more opportunities. She began her letter suggesting that in racing, as in life, unfortunately sometimes it's not what you know it's who you know:

"If I went out on the golf course with Rory McIlroy, played 18 holes in front of a large paying crowd and beat him, what would happen, I wonder?

"If I beat Roger Federer in a tennis match at Wimbledon, would people be interested?

"If my bike was in a photo-finish with Chris Froome’s as we crossed the line, would I perhaps be invited on to popular TV shows?"

She continued to outline some of her career highlights by saying:

"I am a jockey, a female jockey. I have been one since January 2013 when I had my first win, so I’ve been riding for a good while now. "Like many a good racehorse I have good staying power and have been riding for Pat Phelan in Epsom since May 2012. Last year was my most successful with nine winners."

Since Sophie turned 26 in September and was forced to turn pro, she lamented that she is not afforded with the same kind of opportunities as when she rode as an apprentice. She concluded her letter with a brave plea asking for a shot to excel in her sport as a professional:

"I have never played golf with Rory McIlroy, tennis with Roger Federer or cycled against Chris Froome. However, I have competed with some of the best British and Irish Flat jockeys and have actually finished ahead of them on occasions, including Ryan Moore, Silvestre de Sousa and last year’s leading rider Oisin Murphy. "Racing is unique in that inexperienced jockeys can compete on equal terms with very successful ones. But what is a successful jockey? One who wins lots of races. "I could win lots of races too if I were given better opportunities. I know I could make the odd mistake, but there isn’t a jockey out there who never makes one. "Trainers, you’re allowed to gamble. Take a chance on me."

Absolutely love this. Fair play Sophie Ralston - so often women are encouraged to ‘shut up and work hard’ to get to where they want to be, but if you believe in yourself why can’t you call out something you think is unfair? Plenty of male jockeys are in the same boat, of course. https://t.co/iqDBZ1IodK

— Maddy P (@mp_horseracing) January 5, 2019

Less than a week after the letter was published, Sophie received two job offers, the BBC reports. Indeed, with a work ethic like that and more than a healthy dose of steely determination, the sky's the limit for her. As the saying goes, "Well-behaved women seldom make history."

20x20 is an ambitious two-year long initiative to better promote and champion women in sport.

With the tagline of "if she can't see it, she can't be it," the 20x20 movement has three targets to reach by 2020:

• 20 percent more media coverage of women in sport
• 20 percent more female participation
• 20 percent more attendance at women’s competitions and events

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