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Historically, jumps racing was a male-dominated arena, but the modern era has seen barriers break down, with female jockeys making significant strides at the Cheltenham Festival.
With more women entering the weighing room, horse racing continues to stand out as a sport where gender equality is truly embraced.
Since Caroline Beasley’s historic 1983 win in the Foxhunters Chase riding Eliogarty, 16 female jockeys have celebrated success at Cheltenham, and the number of talented and successful women riders continues to rise.
Let’s have a look at the six most successful female jockeys in Cheltenham history.
6. Gee Armytage – Two Wins
Caroline Robinson was the first female jockey to win at Cheltenham, but Gee Armytage was the pioneer who secured victory competing against professional riders.
Riding The Ellier for trainer Nigel Tinkler, Armytage won the 1987 Kim Muir Challenge Cup. She added to her success at that Festival by also winning the Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup on Gee-A, trained by Geoff Hubbard.
She nearly made history again by challenging for the leading jockey title; however, she fell short on countback to Peter Scudamore. The first female jockey to win that honour was Rachael Blackmore in 2021.
5. Bryony Frost – Two Wins
Frost has emerged as Britain’s pre-eminent female jumps pilot in recent times. She is based at the Ditcheat yard of champion trainer Paul Nicholls and is a trusted aide for the top trainer. Nicholls has provided her with both Cheltenham Festival winners so far.
She partnered Pacha Du Polder to win the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase in 2017 when still riding an amateur and has since added a glorious Ryanair Chase win on Frodon in 2019. Frost is synonymous with ‘The Dude’ and the front-running ride she gave him to fend off all challengers in that Ryanair won her wide acclaim.
4. Lizzie Kelly – Two Wins
In 2018 Lizzie Kelly broke new ground for female jockeys as she became the first fully-fledged professional to win a race at the Cheltenham Festival, steering home Coo Star Sivola for stepfather Nick Williams.
Kelly kept things simple aboard the market leader, settling in just behind the leading group, before allowing him to stride to the front before the home turn. Shantou Flyer came to challenge but Kelly and Coo Star Sivola held on gamely.
A year later, she would partner Siruh Du Lac to win the Brown Advisory Plate Chase, ensuring wins at successive Festivals.
3. Katie Walsh – Three Wins
Katie Walsh is from racing royalty. Her father, Ted, is amongst Ireland’s most popular trainers/pundits, while brother Ruby has ridden more Cheltenham Festival winners than anyone else.
His younger sister joined him in 2010, when steering Poker De Sivola to win the amateur riders’ National Hunt Chase for trainer Ferdy Murphy. It was to be a week to remember, as the Friday also saw Katie bringing Thousand Stars home in front at 20/1 in the County Handicap Hurdle for Willie Mullins. She narrowly lost the battle with her brother that week – as Ruby had three winners!
2. Nina Carberry – Seven Wins
For Irish racing fans of a certain vintage, the phrase “Nina in the bumper” will forever draw a smile, but surprisingly the Champion Bumper wasn’t amongst her seven Festival wins.
Like Walsh, Nina Carberry came from a racing background, with her father, Tommy, a former jockey and brother, Paul, perhaps the coolest rider of his generation.
Owner JP McManus was one of her strongest backers and she partnered three successive Cross Country Chase winners in his green and gold hoops from 2007-2009 on board Heads Onthe Ground and Garde Champetre (twice) for the master of the banks, trainer Enda Bolger.
She would again claim that race in 2016 on Josies Order (by appeal), while there further Festival wins on Dabiroun in the 2005 Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle and via the legend that was On The Fringe in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase in 2015 and 2016.
1. Rachael Blackmore – 18 Wins
With a remarkable 18 wins to her name, Rachael Blackmore is the most accomplished female jockey to have ever competed at the Cheltenham Festival, capturing titles such as the Gold Cup, two Champion Hurdles, the Stayers’ Hurdle, and the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Blackmore first shot to Cheltenham Festival glory in 2019 when A Plus Tard won the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase by a huge margin for trainer Henry De Bromhead. It was to be a sign of things to come.
The same year, she brought 50/1 chance Minella Indo home to win the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – again for De Bromhead – landing her first Grade 1 in the Cotswolds in the process. Interestingly, that pair would finish first and second – with Blackmore on the runner-up A Plus Tard – in the 2021 Gold Cup.
However, that setback did nothing to dispel the historic feats of her 2021 Festival, at which Blackmore was crowned leading rider over the four days – an historic moment for female riders.
She appeared to ‘own Cheltenham’ in that week. It began on day one as Honeysuckle – on whom she had won the Mares’ Hurdle in 2020 with an inspired ride – strode to glory in the Champion Hurdle (first female to win that race) and there would be many more Festival winners for Blackmore – Bob Olinger in the Ballymore, Sir Gerard in the Bumper, Telmesomethinggirl in Dawn Run Novices’ Hurdle, Allaho in the Ryanair Chase and Quilixios in the Triumph Hurdle.
An amazing haul of glory in the Cotswold propelled Blackmore to top this chart. Since then, she has gone on to add to her tally, most recently winning the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2025 to take her total wins to 18.
