Picture: Vicky Minott
Vicky Minott is considering a comeback to the saddle thanks to the amendment to the weight rules, which will allow female jockeys a 1,5kg allowance for the entirety of their careers.
She said, “I think it was a brilliant change.”
She emphasised, “Claiming 1.5kg is not a magic wand that is going to make you a better rider, but it is definitely going to bring more oppportunity and that is really what this is all about.”
She retired as a jockey in 2012, three years after qualifying, because she was not able to make a good enough living and decided she was still young enough at the time to make a career change.
She said, “Rachel (Venniker) has been thrown into the forefront of the debate, which is unfortunate, but this is bigger than just one person. Female jockey progress in South Africa is currently further back than it was ten years ago.”
Vicky, like Rachel, also comes from a horse-riding background and as a race-rider was particularly noted for her good seat and excellent balance.
She said, “I was riding at the age of six or seven and I think making a transition to race riding was easier than starting from scratch.”
She added, “But I think female jockeys lack mentorship.”
She points to the excellent guidance Rachel Venniker is receiving from Michael Roberts. She felt that guidance. coupled with Rachel’s natural ability and strength, meant she could hardly go wrong.
She emphasised that the amount of racing experience Venniker had received in such a short space of time had undoubtedly been a huge factor in her progress.
Vicky was also supported by Roberts in her early days, but was them moved by the Academy down to Cape Town.
Vicky, looking at the success of English female jockeys at present, felt there were a number of factors which contributed.
There is the racing culture in the UK, plus the opportunity for children to take part in pony racing.
She also wondered whether the system of apprenticeship over there helped.
In the UK apprentices are employed by trainers and an application for a license is made once the trainer feels that a jockey is competent and has acquired the skills necessary to ride in a race.
Vicky said the mentorship received from both trainer and chief stable jockey in such a system might well provide a great learning curve.
Vicky said she would have to weight up all factors before deciding to come back and said it was not going to be an easy decision.
She pointed out that riding was tough at present even for male jockeys and coming back and not making it was not a happening she would be able to afford.
She is currently employed by Glen Kotzen’s yard on the administrative side.
