A galloping success

We get up, close and personal with Lisa Jones, Bangalore's only woman jockey who's getting ready to say goodbye to the city

We get up, close and personal with Lisa Jones, Bangalore's only woman jockey who's getting ready to say goodbye to the city

Lisa Jones in action at the Bangalore Race Course Pics/Satish Badiger

Lisa Jones has been in the saddle since she was three years old, moving countries, winning races.

And now, Bangalore's only woman jockey is moving to Dubai for the next season.

Lisa, who has participated in races in Austria, Germany, Prague, Mauritius, Dubai, US, the Czech Republic and most European countries, tells us how it all started and what it's been like being a woman in a man's world:

Dreamer

"I have been interested in horses since childhood itself and had made up my mind to become a jockey," said the 26-year-old South African lass who first sat on a horse when she was three.

"I grew up around horses as we had three ponies at our house at Scotland Sunshine, Sadie and Sonia. I learnt horse riding on my favourite pony, Sadie, when I was 3-4 years old," she said.

Let's race

"I joined the Jockey Academy in South Africa when I was 14 and enjoyed the experience waking up early and working with horses.

"My first race was at Scottsville, South Africa, when I was 16 years. I finished fifth and it was a great experience. A couple of years later, I relocated to England and participated in a few races I was the youngest there. My first win was at Southwell in England on a horse called Dulzie. It was a great moment for me."


PATH-BREAKER: Lisa Jones with fellow jockey Wayne Smith
Pics/Madhusudan Maney

In a man's world

"It's hard for girls to become jockeys. We have to practise a lot on and off the track. I go to the gym, walk and spend three hours on the track. We have to work twice as much as the guys and it's hard to get a trainer's confidence. Also, it's difficult to get rides for women because owners and trainers want to put the best jockeys on horses. But, I guess I should be happy that I've got five rides and a win in Bangalore."

The desi experience

"I was the first woman to ride and win in Pune last year. I got 13 rides and one win. This is my first visit to India and I will be moving to Dubai in September to take part in the next season.

"I have taken part in many countries and everywhere the tracks are different but that's how we gain experience. I feel the tracks in India are a bit tougher and the Bangalore track is the hardest to adapt to because the horses change positions very quickly. To win a race, we have to get good positions, like in Formula One racing."

"I've won around 200 races around the world and was the first women in Dubai to win a double in one day."

The personal side

"I get good support from my boyfriend, Wayne Smith, who is also a stable jockey for trainer S Padmanabhan and we have been together for three years. I learn a lot from him and work with him.

"Apart from horses, I love long walks, exploring, swimming and reading. I also love spending time with Wayne and my family."

Thank you

"I should be thankful to my teachers Willie Musson and Alen Jarvis at Jockey's Academy in England. I am also thankful to Padmanabhan here in Bangalore as I get a lot of support from the owners as well."

She's good, man!
Lisa Jones' trainer, S Padmanabhan, said: "I am proud to have a woman jockey. It doesn't mind whether they are men or women so long as they are good jockeys and perform well."