Billy Loughnane, also known as ‘Billy the kid’ is the son of Clare and Daniel Mark Loughnane, an Irish trainer based in England. Born in Ireland, Loughnane moved to England with his parents and brother Jack at the end of 2011, living first in Staffordshire and then, from 2017, at a new training yard, Rock Farm, near Kidderminster in Worcestershire. 

Loughnane started riding out for his father when he was still at school and also rode on the pony racing circuit, winning the all-weather championship in 2022. He always wanted to be a jockey and went to school dressed as a jockey when asked to dress as what he wanted to be he was older. 

On 1 April 2023, on just his third ride on the turf, he rode Doddie’s Impact, trained by Robyn Brisland, to victory in the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster. The following month he became the youngest jockey since Lester Piggott in 1951 to ride in a British classic when he partnered Sweet Harmony in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. The 200/1 outsider, trained by Richard Spencer, finished 14th of 20 runners. 

He had eight rides in his first Royal Ascot, with his best result being second place on Calling the Wind, trained by Richard Hughes, in the Ascot Stakes. 

He rode out his claim with his 95th winner on 8 September 2023, having had to take three weeks out after injuring his thumb in July in the stalls at Nottingham. In October he won the Apprentices’ Derby at Epsom on the favourite Forceful Speed, trained by George Boughey and at the end of the month was crowned as 2023 Champion Apprentice on Champions’ Day at Ascot. 

Since that moment, Billy has continued to go from strength to strength, riding 2 winners at Royal Ascot in 2024 before claiming the Annual Flat Jockeys Championship in 2025. 

His partnership with trainer George Boughey will undoubtedly continue to power him forward but a first Group 1 ride for Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby resulted in the young jockey registering his first success at the top level in August of 2025, aboard the popular Rebel’s Romance.