Kirsty Milczarek
Flat jockey Kirsty Milczarek was born on October 19, 1984 in Britain but is of Polish descent. She became involved in horse racing after a successful career in show-jumping.
Flat jockey Kirsty Milczarek was born on October 19, 1984 in Britain but is of Polish descent. She became involved in horse racing after a successful career in show-jumping.
She rose to fame in the winter of 2007/08, during which she rode 42 all-weather winners between November and March. That resulted in her landing the Leading Apprentice title for the winter season, and to finishing in overall second place behind Chris Catlin.
She rose to fame in the winter of 2007/08, during which she rode 42 all-weather winners between November and March. That resulted in her landing the Leading Apprentice title for the winter season, and to finishing in overall second place behind Chris Catlin.
Widely known as ‘Milkshake’, Kirsty became the first female rider to ride three winners at one meeting – at Kempton in 2008. In August that same year, she became one of the few female jockeys to ride out her claim and achieve fully-fledged professional status when winning her 75th race. She finished that year with a season’s-best score of 71 winners.
Widely known as ‘Milkshake’, Kirsty became the first female rider to ride three winners at one meeting – at Kempton in 2008. In August that same year, she became one of the few female jockeys to ride out her claim and achieve fully-fledged professional status when winning her 75th race. She finished that year with a season’s-best score of 71 winners.
On September 18, 2010 she recorded her most valuable success when landing the £200,000 Tattersalls Millions Auction Trophy at Newmarket on Andrew Balding’s 50-1 outside I Love Me.
On September 18, 2010 she recorded her most valuable success when landing the £200,000 Tattersalls Millions Auction Trophy at Newmarket on Andrew Balding’s 50-1 outside I Love Me.
She made news for another reason in 2010 after being involved in a fight with another female jockey, Sophie Doyle, in the changing room at Southwell. In May 2011 she was accused, along with three other jockeys and a trainer that she had “intentionally failed to ensure that a horse ran on its merits”.
She made news for another reason in 2010 after being involved in a fight with another female jockey, Sophie Doyle, in the changing room at Southwell. In May 2011 she was accused, along with three other jockeys and a trainer that she had “intentionally failed to ensure that a horse ran on its merits”.
She was initially given a two-year ban but this was overturned by the BHA's appeals panel after new evidence was presented.
She was initially given a two-year ban but this was overturned by the BHA's appeals panel after new evidence was presented.
Among the best horses she rode were: Saigon (below), on whom she won the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury on July 15, 2011 and finished second in the Group 3 Darley Stakes the following year; Rewarded, on whom she won four times including the Listed Festival Stakes at Goodwood on May 25, 2013; and Kikonga, on whom she won three races including a class 3 fillies handicap at Ascot on July 12, 2013.
Among the best horses she rode were: Saigon (below), on whom she won the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury on July 15, 2011 and finished second in the Group 3 Darley Stakes the following year; Rewarded, on whom she won four times including the Listed Festival Stakes at Goodwood on May 25, 2013; and Kikonga, on whom she won three races including a class 3 fillies handicap at Ascot on July 12, 2013.
She spent most of her riding career with James Toller but also had four years riding for Luca Cumani. She later rode for another Newmarket trainer, John Ryan, and went on to ride more than 250 winners.
She spent most of her riding career with James Toller but also had four years riding for Luca Cumani. She later rode for another Newmarket trainer, John Ryan, and went on to ride more than 250 winners.
The last of those was achieved on the Richard Guest-trained Ambitious Icarus in a five-furlong handicap at Ripon on September 28, 2013. What was to prove her final ride came on Microlight for trainer John Long in a class 6 handicap Brighton, October 17, 2013.
The last of those was achieved on the Richard Guest-trained Ambitious Icarus in a five-furlong handicap at Ripon on September 28, 2013. What was to prove her final ride came on Microlight for trainer John Long in a class 6 handicap Brighton, October 17, 2013.
Following a ten-year career in the saddle, Kirsty was forced to announce her retirement on medical grounds in October 2014 after failing to recover from a serious neck injury sustained in a freak stalls accident at that Brighton meeting twelve months earlier. She hit her head when coming out of the stalls. The injury necessitated a seven-and-a-half-hour operation to replace discs in her spinal cord. She took the decision to retire following discussions with the British Horseracing Authority’s medical advisor Dr Jerry Hill, who warned that another fall could paralyse her.
Following a ten-year career in the saddle, Kirsty was forced to announce her retirement on medical grounds in October 2014 after failing to recover from a serious neck injury sustained in a freak stalls accident at that Brighton meeting twelve months earlier. She hit her head when coming out of the stalls. The injury necessitated a seven-and-a-half-hour operation to replace discs in her spinal cord. She took the decision to retire following discussions with the British Horseracing Authority’s medical advisor Dr Jerry Hill, who warned that another fall could paralyse her.