Interview with Lilly Pinchin - 25 Year Old Rising Jockey Super Star
‘I love the adrenaline buzz when you ride a winner, there really is no feeling like it’
With no family background in horseracing whatsoever, Lilly started out in the North Cotswold Hunt branch of the Pony Club, embracing a wide range of activities, including Show Jumping and Eventing. Lucky enough to get a pony at age nine, she felt the pull - taking him racing and winning her first one. With a few wins under her belt, she then gave Point-to-Pointing (amateur horse racing) a go. Lilly rode in her first Point-to-Point in February 2015 and scored her first win between the Flags in April 2016. From there, she had caught the bug.
While at school, Lilly rode out (where you help exercise race horses) for local trainer Richard Phillips. At 15, having then made the decision to leave school, she began a course at the British Racing School in Newmarket, whilst continuing her maths and English GCSEs on the side. At 16, Lilly went to work for Fergal O’Brien. Under him, she rode a horse called Creevytennant, who provided her with her first winner against professionals in May 2017 – which really got her career off the ground. Lilly then moved on to ride for Graeme McPherson, where she rode as a Conditional Jockey. Graeme set Lilly a goal to ride five winners, she ended up riding 14! A bad fall in April 2021, saw Lilly out for six months. During this time, she kept herself busy with her many animals, she even hatched turkeys - which she had told her mum were chickens!. Lilly also did an online midwifery course, something that she would love to pursue a career in, later in life.
On her return, Lilly rode a winner on her second ride back. Moving to ride with Richard Hobson in France, she then rode for trainer Charlie Longsdon, making it a winning one on a horse called Freethinker at Newcastle in February 2022. Lilly finally rode out her claim in November 2023, something which had been her goal for a long time (to become a professional jockey, this means you have to ride a certain number of winners) Horse racing is a super interesting topic for WAGIS to cover, as it’s not a sport that would instantly spring to mind for most. Lilly found some time in her busy schedule to chat to us:
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background.
I have no background in racing, my family weren’t into racing at all but I was lucky enough to be part of the North Cotswold Hunt branch of the Pony Club where I did Show Jumping and Eventing. I got my first pony at the age of nine called Magical Toffee and took him pony racing at Cheltenham and won. I then did more pony racing days on my next pony Mr Bojangles, and I caught the bug from then on, it really gave me the opportunity to learn more about racing.
Given that racing wasn’t in your family, what do you think the appeal was of pony racing?
I loved the speed and the thrill of it, I just wanted to go fast. Point to Point (amateur horseracing) was the natural progression after pony racing and I learnt a lot from it, and it was very important to me. I rode my first Point to Point in 2015 and got my first win almost a year later which was an amazing feeling and gave me the taste of what a career as a jockey could be like
You've worked for lots of different trainers, all bringing their own influence. However, who has been the most influential and why?
Charlie Longsdon has been the most influential trainer in my career so far. He has put me on a lot of horses and gave me a lot of chances. I went to ride for him after riding in France for Richard Hobson, which was amazing. When I returned, I rung Charlie and after a few rides and winners he offered me a job riding for him full-time. They are an amazing team, and I am grateful for the opportunities they have provided me with.
At what point did you realise you could do this as a career?
When I was 5lb claimer (a weight allowance is given to jockeys before turning fully professional – this is achieved when 75 winners are ridden under rules), two years ago and when I won at Cheltenham.
Removing yourself from school at 15 is quite a big thing, certainly in the UK. What made you realise that it firmly wasn't for you?
I was never someone who sat down and wanted to be at school, I was always more of an outdoors sort of person and have always had a huge love for animals, especially horses. I knew I loved racing, so I wanted to focus all my attention on that. I began a course at the British Racing School in Newmarket and did my Math’s and English GCSEs on the side.
6. How did you keep yourself occupied and motivate yourself during your serious injury in April 2021?
I was off for six months, I don’t know what I would have done without all my animals and chickens, they kept me busy, I even hatched some turkeys. I also did an online midwifery course; I am not fully qualified, but it is something that I am really interested in and a career I would love to explore when I stop racing.
7. Pros and cons of horse racing?
Winners are great, but not winning can be very disappointing. It is also risky, and injuries do happen which can set you back for a while. Sometimes it can be hard work and my schedule is busy, but I enjoy keeping busy and active.
8. What does racing give you, mentally and physically? And what fitness and what qualities do you need specifically?
I love the adrenaline buzz when you ride a winner, there really is no feeling like it. It is also mentally stimulating because you are so busy and always on the move. Being a jockey is a way of life, you have to keep fit and keep your head straight to be the best you can be. My fitness consists of a lot of running and riding out (exercising the horses), and race riding also keeps you very fit too. It is important to be doing one or the other, so if I am not racing, I am running or in the gym. I go to the gym as much as possible at one of the Injured Jockey Fund centers which is a gym for jockeys, but I work this around my racing schedule. You definitely need to have dedication as racing can be up to seven days a week, so you need your body to be at peak fitness all the time.
9. To anyone thinking about it, or curious, why give horse racing a go?
Racing is an amazing sport, and it is very pleasing, you have some really good days. You honestly don’t feel like you are working, you get up in the morning to do a job you love.
10. A day in the life?
I wake up 5:30am, and I am out the door at 6am, I ride out at racing yard (where horses are cared for and trained) and go racing from there. I will leave the racing yard mid-morning to drive the racecourse. Depending on how many rides I have and where I am, I’m usually home by 5pm.
11. You've spoken up about the disadvantage some female jockeys may find, not having separate changing rooms was a factor to begin with. Can you explain this a little more for us?
Racing is a unique sport as men and women compete against each other on a level playing field and in recent years there has been more success stories of women riders. In the sport they have improved the changing facilities for women, this was necessary as it is now a growing sport for women. Hopefully improved facilities can bring out the best in us female riders. Some of the changes aren’t quite adaptable yet, but the sport is always working to make it all fair.
12. Best career moment to date and why?
Riding out my claim (75 winners) in November last year and riding my Cheltenham winners. Riding out my claim has been a goal of mine for a long time, so I was really happy to achieve this. Cheltenham is also my local track, so not only is it an amazing achievement to win there, but it holds personal value too.
Lilly Pinchin will be riding during one of Britian's Premier Raceday fixtures, The Cheltenham Festival (12-15 March) . To find out more visit www.greatbritishracing.com/premier-racedays/
