jockey

Karen Wiltshire had just been hit on the bottom with a whip by a rival jockey during a race.

She was overlooked for rides, verbally abused and ridiculed by other staff at her stables, but still went on to become the first professional jockey to ride a winner in British Flat racing when, aged 22, she guided The Goldstone to victory at Salisbury in 1978.

Owners might initially frown on a woman being a jockey.

While opportunities have improved, Wiltshire said she was not surprised there had been a recent high-profile case of sexism in British racing, with Robbie Dunne completing a 10-month ban two years ago for bullying fellow jockey Bryony Frost, who now rides in France.

It was winning Irish jockey Robbie Dolan's first ride in the event, but a second victory for New Zealand trainer Sheila Laxon.