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Hollie Doyle sets winners record for female jockey in Britain

Hollie Doyle

Hollie Doyle atop Brindavan at Ascot on May 10, 2025.

Photo credit: Pool

Hollie Doyle, 28, praised Hayley Turner after surpassing her former friend as the winning-most female jockey in Britain. This 1,023rd strike, duly arrived, courtesy of Brindavan at Ascot on Saturday. Hollie reached 100 in 2019, padding 1,000 domestic winners in March.

A personal-best tally of 172, was set in 2021. She made her breakthrough at Group 1 level in 2020 – the same year she was appointed as retained rider for Kuwaiti owner-breeder Imad Alsagar – when steering Glen Shiel ahoy in the British Champions Sprint.

Other big-races include three toppers on Nashwa, headed by a Classic in the 2022 Prix de Diane, and two Royal Ascot on Bradsell in the King's Stand Stakes and Coventry Stakes. "Hayley had it a lot tougher than I did and she’s paved the way for us to carry on - there are plenty more female riders in the pipeline. I’ve no room for slackening off the pace. You have to be really resilient in this sport and everyone has to work hard. I’m not an exception."

When asked for a career highlight, Hollie said: "My first Classic on Nashwa was moving, then, Glen Shiel was super fun."

John and Thady Gosden's operation, have earned a million sterling pounds with help from Hollie's input. Speaking about her achievement, John Gosden said: "She’s the most fantastic person with great character. A 1000 per cent hard worker, and, a pleasure to be around. Obviously very competitive, but does it with style and a smile. There’s no better role model. She and Tom Marquand, are beyond the ideal couple.  Quite extraordinary - if you held them up as an example, other people would say they could never aspire to those heights."

Tom rode Brindavan at Newmarket last time and also had plenty of praise for his wife’s historic landmark.

"It's a stunning booster, especially at her age," he said. "But I don't think it's something Hollie will even have thought about. She recognises the significance and will never give up. It's a really nice milestone to hit, but not the be-all. We're in a privileged position to be doing as well as we are at the moment – hopefully she can rack up enough numbers for the championship. We're at Newcastle tomorrow."

Alongside domestic achievements, Hollie made history when becoming the first female jockey to win a leg of the prestigious Hong Kong International Jockeys’ Challenge in 2020, and, became the first female rider to be given a short-term riding contract by the Japan Racing Association in 2022. She was also named Sunday Times Sportswoman in 2020, and popped third place for the BBC Sports Personality Award.