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Born in 1967, Jacqueline (Jaki) Houston was torn between the worlds of art and horse racing for her future career. She studied at art college before deciding on a life in racing with a view to becoming a professional jockey.
Born in 1967, Jacqueline (Jaki) Houston was torn between the worlds of art and horse racing for her future career. She studied at art college before deciding on a life in racing with a view to becoming a professional jockey.
Following an eight-week course at the British Racing School, she joined Newmarket trainer Ben Hanbury. She spent two years there but was unable to gain racecourse experience, so she moved to join another Newmarket trainer, James Toller.
Following an eight-week course at the British Racing School, she joined Newmarket trainer Ben Hanbury. She spent two years there but was unable to gain racecourse experience, so she moved to join another Newmarket trainer, James Toller.
Her first ride was a winner, when Pubby, trained by Toller, won the Chobham Apprentice Handicap at Ascot on 30 April 1986. She thus became the first professional female jockey to ride a winner at Ascot, beating by just over a year Gay Kelleway, who became the first woman to ride a winner at Royal Ascot when Sprowston Boy landed the 1987 Queen Alexandra Stakes.
Her first ride was a winner, when Pubby, trained by Toller, won the Chobham Apprentice Handicap at Ascot on 30 April 1986. She thus became the first professional female jockey to ride a winner at Ascot, beating by just over a year Gay Kelleway, who became the first woman to ride a winner at Royal Ascot when Sprowston Boy landed the 1987 Queen Alexandra Stakes.
Jaki rode three winners from 17 mounts in 1987, all of them for Toller. The first of those was 11-4 joint-favourite Bath in the Cork Gully Apprentice Handicap at Newbury on 11 June. The other two were gained on a three-year-old filly named Toot Toot in legs of the Glen International Apprentice Handicap series, an innovative event for female apprentice jockeys. Jaki rode Toot Toot to victory at Brighton on 23 June and at Bath on 27 July.
Jaki rode three winners from 17 mounts in 1987, all of them for Toller. The first of those was 11-4 joint-favourite Bath in the Cork Gully Apprentice Handicap at Newbury on 11 June. The other two were gained on a three-year-old filly named Toot Toot in legs of the Glen International Apprentice Handicap series, an innovative event for female apprentice jockeys. Jaki rode Toot Toot to victory at Brighton on 23 June and at Bath on 27 July.
She failed to ride a winner in 1988. However, that was followed by three wins from 26 mounts in 1989, two of which came in another sponsored contest for apprentice jockeys (male and female this time), the Whitelane Apprentice Series, a five-legged series of races, all held at Pontefract. On 13 June Jaki rode Toller’s Chief Singer filly The Queen of Soul to beat that season’s champion apprentice Jimmy Fortune by a neck. In the next leg on 11 July, she rode the Toller-trained Dry Point and dead-heated with Fortune. She then finished second on Hitchenstown in the next leg, beaten a neck.
She failed to ride a winner in 1988. However, that was followed by three wins from 26 mounts in 1989, two of which came in another sponsored contest for apprentice jockeys (male and female this time), the Whitelane Apprentice Series, a five-legged series of races, all held at Pontefract. On 13 June Jaki rode Toller’s Chief Singer filly The Queen of Soul to beat that season’s champion apprentice Jimmy Fortune by a neck. In the next leg on 11 July, she rode the Toller-trained Dry Point and dead-heated with Fortune. She then finished second on Hitchenstown in the next leg, beaten a neck.
Those efforts resulted in her winning the Whitelane Apprentice Series, the prize for which was a trip to America to work for top trainer John Veitch. That was to stand her in good stead for her later riding career.
Those efforts resulted in her winning the Whitelane Apprentice Series, the prize for which was a trip to America to work for top trainer John Veitch. That was to stand her in good stead for her later riding career.
Seeking further opportunities, Jaski moved north in 1990 to Yorkshire trainer Mick Naughton at Richmond. Naughton had a good season with 32 winners and Jaki was able to ride a few of them. They included three at Edinburgh, two in June on the five-year-old Quip, landing the Royal Scots Cup and the Inchkeith Handicap; and Noble Sun in the Bet With The Tote Handicap in September. She also won the Maudsley Bookmakers State Of The Arts Handicap at Pontefract on Hitchenstown.
Seeking further opportunities, Jaski moved north in 1990 to Yorkshire trainer Mick Naughton at Richmond. Naughton had a good season with 32 winners and Jaki was able to ride a few of them. They included three at Edinburgh, two in June on the five-year-old Quip, landing the Royal Scots Cup and the Inchkeith Handicap; and Noble Sun in the Bet With The Tote Handicap in September. She also won the Maudsley Bookmakers State Of The Arts Handicap at Pontefract on Hitchenstown.
Her apprenticeship ended at the end of 1990, so she took out a full jockey’s licence for 1991. However, as is so often the case, that first year without a claim proved a struggle. Among her few successes was the Naughton-trained Jubran in the Spring Fling Selling Handicap at Edinburgh on 13 May, 1991.
Her apprenticeship ended at the end of 1990, so she took out a full jockey’s licence for 1991. However, as is so often the case, that first year without a claim proved a struggle. Among her few successes was the Naughton-trained Jubran in the Spring Fling Selling Handicap at Edinburgh on 13 May, 1991.
She returned south and worked for yet another Newmarket trainer, Giles Bravery, but relinquished her licence at the end of 1993. She had ridden at every British racecourse bar Goodwood and rated Pontefract and Edinburgh (it had not yet been renamed Musselburgh) as her two luckiest courses. But now it was time to move on.
She returned south and worked for yet another Newmarket trainer, Giles Bravery, but relinquished her licence at the end of 1993. She had ridden at every British racecourse bar Goodwood and rated Pontefract and Edinburgh (it had not yet been renamed Musselburgh) as her two luckiest courses. But now it was time to move on.
John Campbell, her partner, who had been working for William Jarvis, was moving to Dubai. Jaki took the opportunity to join him there. She was given a job with American trainer Richard Conway, who was based in Dubai.
John Campbell, her partner, who had been working for William Jarvis, was moving to Dubai. Jaki took the opportunity to join him there. She was given a job with American trainer Richard Conway, who was based in Dubai.
It was to be her home for six and a half years, during which time she became the first female jockey to ride a winner in Dubai. Work came her way from Sheikh Mohammed, helping his daughters with every aspect of the care and training of horses.
It was to be her home for six and a half years, during which time she became the first female jockey to ride a winner in Dubai. Work came her way from Sheikh Mohammed, helping his daughters with every aspect of the care and training of horses.
Eventually, however, Jaki’s love of art re-emerged and painting became an integral part of her life again. She became an award-winning artist with a display at one of Dubai’s largest and best-known galleries. She received commissions for work from both Sheikh Mohammed and singer Rod Stewart, and decided to return to Britain to pursue her new career.
Eventually, however, Jaki’s love of art re-emerged and painting became an integral part of her life again. She became an award-winning artist with a display at one of Dubai’s largest and best-known galleries. She received commissions for work from both Sheikh Mohammed and singer Rod Stewart, and decided to return to Britain to pursue her new career.
She relocated to Devon, where her gallery, a 16th century barn, became a base for her artistic gift.
She relocated to Devon, where her gallery, a 16th century barn, became a base for her artistic gift.
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