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Born on December 19, 1963, Gay Marie Kelleway is the daughter of successful National Hunt jockey and Newmarket trainer Paul Kelleway (1940-1999). In 1987 she made history by becoming the first female jockey to win a race at Royal Ascot.
Born on December 19, 1963, Gay Marie Kelleway is the daughter of successful National Hunt jockey and Newmarket trainer Paul Kelleway (1940-1999). In 1987 she made history by becoming the first female jockey to win a race at Royal Ascot.
It was another Newmarket trainer, Clive Brittain, who supplied Gay with her first winner, aged 17, on 7-2 second favourite Aberfield in the sponsored Ladies’ Derby Stakes at Ripon on Wednesday, June 3, 1981, the race being run on the same day as the ‘real’ Derby at Epsom. She finished second in that year’s Lady Amateur Riders’ Championship but won it in 1982, aged 18. She turned professional the following year, becoming apprenticed to her father
It was another Newmarket trainer, Clive Brittain, who supplied Gay with her first winner, aged 17, on 7-2 second favourite Aberfield in the sponsored Ladies’ Derby Stakes at Ripon on Wednesday, June 3, 1981, the race being run on the same day as the ‘real’ Derby at Epsom. She finished second in that year’s Lady Amateur Riders’ Championship but won it in 1982, aged 18. She turned professional the following year, becoming apprenticed to her father
Besides having been her first winner when still an amateur, Aberfield would play a further part in Gay’s professional career. She won the Newmarket leg of the Daily Mirror Apprentice Championship on him in April 1984 and also rode him to victory in that year’s Operatic Society Challenge Cup at Brighton. She was crowned Champion Lady Jockey three years in a row, 1983, 1984 and 1985, riding 13 winners on the latter occasion.
Besides having been her first winner when still an amateur, Aberfield would play a further part in Gay’s professional career. She won the Newmarket leg of the Daily Mirror Apprentice Championship on him in April 1984 and also rode him to victory in that year’s Operatic Society Challenge Cup at Brighton. She was crowned Champion Lady Jockey three years in a row, 1983, 1984 and 1985, riding 13 winners on the latter occasion.
She became the first woman to ride a winner at Royal Ascot when winning the 1987 Queen Alexandra Stakes on Sprowston Boy, trained by her father. That feat stood for 32 years until Hayley Turner emulated her by winning the 2019 Sandringham Stakes on Thanks Be.
She became the first woman to ride a winner at Royal Ascot when winning the 1987 Queen Alexandra Stakes on Sprowston Boy, trained by her father. That feat stood for 32 years until Hayley Turner emulated her by winning the 2019 Sandringham Stakes on Thanks Be.
Gay went on to ride 85 winners, no mean achievement in an era that was even more male-orientated than today. She rode in New Zealand, where there were more opportunities for women jockeys, and won big races at both the Auckland tracks, Ellerslie and Avondale. However, a constant struggle with her weight led to her decision to give up race riding and return to Britain.
Gay went on to ride 85 winners, no mean achievement in an era that was even more male-orientated than today. She rode in New Zealand, where there were more opportunities for women jockeys, and won big races at both the Auckland tracks, Ellerslie and Avondale. However, a constant struggle with her weight led to her decision to give up race riding and return to Britain.
After retiring from the saddle she spent time working in the media before moving back to Newmarket in 1991 and taking out a trainer’s licence, initially renting a few boxes from Bob Champion before moving to state-of-the-art facilities at Whitcombe Manor Racing Stables in Dorset in 1994. She achieved her first big race success as a trainer when saddling Samwar to land the 1996 Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon.
After retiring from the saddle she spent time working in the media before moving back to Newmarket in 1991 and taking out a trainer’s licence, initially renting a few boxes from Bob Champion before moving to state-of-the-art facilities at Whitcombe Manor Racing Stables in Dorset in 1994. She achieved her first big race success as a trainer when saddling Samwar to land the 1996 Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon.
Following a brief spell based at Lingfield Park in the late 1990s, she returned to Newmarket and trained at Charnwood Stables on Hamilton Road. A final move came in 2008 to the appropriately-named Queen Alexandra Stables at Exning, where she continues to train today, alongside a satellite yard in France, from which she is able to take advantage of the higher prize money on offer in French racing.
Following a brief spell based at Lingfield Park in the late 1990s, she returned to Newmarket and trained at Charnwood Stables on Hamilton Road. A final move came in 2008 to the appropriately-named Queen Alexandra Stables at Exning, where she continues to train today, alongside a satellite yard in France, from which she is able to take advantage of the higher prize money on offer in French racing.
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