Hollie Doyle sets new British record

News | 14^th October 2020

Hollie Doyle has set a new record of wins achieved by a woman during a calendar year in Britain when riding her 117^th victory of 2020.

Hollie Doyle surpasses her own record of 116 wins which she set in 2019, exceeding the previous record held by Josephine Gordon in 2017 (106 wins).

This tremendous feat is made even more impressive given Hollie has broken the record in fewer days, with racing suspended 75 days between March and June in 2020 due to COVID-19 as well as jockeys being restricted to one meeting per day again due to COVID-19.

The 23-year-old’s record breaking moment came with State Occasion at Kempton Park this evening.

State Occasion just hangs on to land the @unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Nursery Handicap

Congratulations to @HollieDoyle1 who breaks the record that she set last year - 117 wins so far this year! 👏 pic.twitter.com/RDrSRnbsT4
— Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) October 14, 2020

On breaking the record, Doyle, said: “When I broke the record last year in the back of my mind I was always thinking about breaking it again this year, as I didn’t want it to be a one off, so I’m delighted to have achieved that goal.”

“When you think that we also missed two months of racing this year, it is amazing that I have been able to do it so quickly. I want to thank all the owners and trainers that have supported me throughout this year, without them, none of this would have been possible.”

The record marks another amazing achievement for the Lambourn-based jockey this year, with Doyle already becoming the first woman to land five winners at a single meeting following a fantastic five-timer at Windsor on the 29^th August.

This year has also seen Doyle claim her maiden Group victories (highest rated horse races), firstly with Dame Malliot in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket on the 9^th July.

She then enjoyed two Group 3 successes with Extra Elusive, beginning with the BetVictor Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park on the 8^th August and subsequently in the Gallagher Group Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor on the same day as her fabulous five timer.

Doyle also became only the third woman to ride a winner at Royal Ascot following a tremendous triumph with Scarlet Dragon in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, joining Gay Kellaway and Hayley Turner on the Royal Ascot roll of honour.

Hayley Turner said: “It’s a fantastic achievement to have broken the record again. Hollie is very driven and focused. She has an outstanding work ethic and attitude every young jockey should have. She has kept her head out the clouds and her hard work and results prove that.”

ITV Racing Presenter, Francesca Cumani said: “I have made the point many times that I think gender is irrelevant when it comes to jockeys. For too long, female riders have not had the same opportunities as their male counterparts and have not had the chance to show the extent of their skills.

She continued: “Hollie has proven that when given an opening she can be just as capable, if not more than any of her colleagues. She is pocket sized but has talent for horses big and small that you can’t measure. Her humility and affability hold her in great stead for further successes and more records.”

.@HollieDoyle1 on what it means to break the woman’s record for the most winners in a calendar year once again pic.twitter.com/YUvRTIXg9f
— Great British Racing (@GBRacing) October 14, 2020

Doyle’s 117^th win puts her third in the Annual Flat Jockey Championships, 32 behind leader Ben Curtis (149).

In the 2020 Flat Jockeys’ Championship, which concludes at Doncaster on Saturday 7^th November, Hollie is fourth with 82 wins.

2020 Jockey Championships

Flat Jockeys

Jump Jockeys

Annual Flat Jockeys

A large proportion of her wins have come for Berkshire-based trainer Archie Watson, with the pair enjoying 33 victories together.

No other jockey has provided more triumphs for Watson, who said of Hollie’s achievement: “Hollie is an incredibly hard working and talented jockey. We have had over 100 winners together in a short amount of time and I am delighted that she is starting to gain the recognition she deserves.”

The record-breaking victory marked Doyle’s 12^th success at Kempton Park this year, with Wolverhampton being her top performing track of 2020 so far following 23 victories.