Punters are underestimating female jump jockeys despite the reality that they are a solid bet, new research has suggested. University of Liverpool Ph.D. student Vanessa Cashmore analyzed 1.6 million rides over an 18-year period and found a horse ridden by a woman at odds of 9/1 has the same chance of winning as one ridden by a man at an odds of 8/1.
At the 2019 Cheltenham Festival, 14.3% of wins came from female riders despite the fact they had only 9.2% of the available rides. “This analysis seems to suggest there is a significant difference between the material performance of female jump jockeys and the public perception of their capability,” said Ms. Cashmore.
“The betting public consistently underestimate these jockeys. This could be an indicator of negative public opinion about the ability of female riders but also ensures there is value to be found in backing horses ridden by female jockeys in jump races.
I hope this research can move us another step closer to altering attitudes towards female jockeys and more importantly, driving behavioral change.”
