“Racing is the only major sport in Ireland where women directly take on the men, and often beat them.”
A documentary about women in horse racing is airing this week and it looks set to be absolutely brilliant.
Part one of Jump Girls will be on TV this week, following the key women making a name – and a legacy – for themselves at the centre of horse racing in Ireland.
Jockeys Rachael Blackmore, Katie Walsh, Lisa O’Neill, and Katie O’Farrell, as well as trainer Jessica Harrington, share the stories of their own successes – as well as the obstacles they face in a sport that is often so male dominated.
During the making of the documentary, Blackmore became the first woman ever to lead the Irish Jump Jockeys Championship. She was also the first woman rider to ever win three races on the same day.
Similarly, the 2018 Cheltenham Festival saw female jockeys win four races for the first time, with three women riding in last year’s Grand National.
Jump Girls‘ director Luke McManus said that female jockeys are currently experiencing a “golden era” in Irish sport.
“Racing is the only major sport in Ireland where women directly take on the men, and often beat them,” he said.
“We went out to capture the physically remorseless, mentally exhausting reality of jump racing and the brave dedicated women who’ve made it to the top. And if anything, our admiration is greater now than ever before.
“This is a golden era for women in National Hunt racing and we were very fortunate as film makers to be able to chronicle these exceptional times.”
Jump Girls part one will be on TG4 on Thursday, February 21 at 9.30pm.
You can check out the trailer here:
20×20 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 20×20 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
And at Maximum Media, we’re proud that Her and SportsJOE is backing the 20×20 movement as official digital media partners.
