Lorna Vincent
Lorna Vincent was the first women to carve out a name for herself as a jockey in the world of National Hunt racing. She rode her first winner at Devon & Exeter in 1978 and became a role model for future professional female jump jockeys such as Diane Clay, Jacqui Oliver and Gee Armytage and, more recently, Lucy Alexander and Bryony Frost.
Lorna Vincent was the first women to carve out a name for herself as a jockey in the world of National Hunt racing. She rode her first winner at Devon & Exeter in 1978 and became a role model for future professional female jump jockeys such as Diane Clay, Jacqui Oliver and Gee Armytage and, more recently, Lucy Alexander and Bryony Frost.
Lorna Jayne Vincent was born in Reading on March 2, 1959. She already had considerable experience of dressage and showing when joining West Country trainer Les Kennard’s stable after leaving school. She had a few rides on the Flat before making a fairytale start to her career over jumps. Aged 19, on her first ride over hurdles, she became the first professional female jockey to ride a winner under National Hunt rules when landing the Whitestone Opportunity Handicap Hurdle on 25-1 outsider Pretty Cute at Devon & Exeter on August 17, 1978, battling on well to defy Destiny Hill’s sustained challenge by a head. The pair followed up at Newton Abbot 11 days later, winning the Ladbroke West Country Handicap Hurdle.
Lorna Jayne Vincent was born in Reading on March 2, 1959. She already had considerable experience of dressage and showing when joining West Country trainer Les Kennard’s stable after leaving school. She had a few rides on the Flat before making a fairytale start to her career over jumps. Aged 19, on her first ride over hurdles, she became the first professional female jockey to ride a winner under National Hunt rules when landing the Whitestone Opportunity Handicap Hurdle on 25-1 outsider Pretty Cute at Devon & Exeter on August 17, 1978, battling on well to defy Destiny Hill’s sustained challenge by a head. The pair followed up at Newton Abbot 11 days later, winning the Ladbroke West Country Handicap Hurdle.
She quickly struck up a winning partnership with another of Kennard’s hurdlers, Gently Does It. In November 1978 they won the Citizens of Birmingham Handicap Hurdle at Worcester and the Seven Barrows Handicap Hurdle at Newbury. They then won the valuable Buchanan Whisky Hurdle at Ascot on December 18, 1978.
She quickly struck up a winning partnership with another of Kennard’s hurdlers, Gently Does It. In November 1978 they won the Citizens of Birmingham Handicap Hurdle at Worcester and the Seven Barrows Handicap Hurdle at Newbury. They then won the valuable Buchanan Whisky Hurdle at Ascot on December 18, 1978.
Lorna enjoyed her best season in 1979/80, when she rode 22 winners. They included three novice chases in a row on Gently Does It – her first rides over fences – and four hurdle races on Walnut Wonder, including a 33-1 shock victory in Ascot’s SGB Hire Shop Hurdle on December 15, 1979, and a Panama Cigar Hurdle qualifier at Chepstow seven days later.
Lorna enjoyed her best season in 1979/80, when she rode 22 winners. They included three novice chases in a row on Gently Does It – her first rides over fences – and four hurdle races on Walnut Wonder, including a 33-1 shock victory in Ascot’s SGB Hire Shop Hurdle on December 15, 1979, and a Panama Cigar Hurdle qualifier at Chepstow seven days later.
Two days before her 21st birthday, on February 29, 1980, riding Grand Hussar, she had the thrill of beating champion jockey John Francome on the favourite Owen Glin in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Newbury.
Two days before her 21st birthday, on February 29, 1980, riding Grand Hussar, she had the thrill of beating champion jockey John Francome on the favourite Owen Glin in a three-mile handicap hurdle at Newbury.
She rode successfully throughout the 1980s but her seasonal winning totals had slipped to four and five by the end of the decade. In December 1989 she had a bad schooling fall, resulting in severed ligaments to her right knee.
She rode successfully throughout the 1980s but her seasonal winning totals had slipped to four and five by the end of the decade. In December 1989 she had a bad schooling fall, resulting in severed ligaments to her right knee.
She became assistant trainer to Mick Channon while continuing to ride in races. She rode 11 winners in the 1990/91 season and enjoyed another highlight when winning the Tripleprint Handicap Hurdle on Peatswood at Kempton’s 1993 Christmas meeting, getting up on the run-in to beat Richard Dunwoody on the favourite Beyond Our Reach. She rode what was to prove her last winner over jumps on Mick Channon’s Rowlandsons Gold in a Fontwell selling hurdle on March 22, 1994. It was not her final winner though, for she also rode Channon’s filly Glowing Jade to land a professional lady riders’ Flat race at Redcar on May 9, 1994, beating Alex Greaves’ mount Waterlord by a length.
She became assistant trainer to Mick Channon while continuing to ride in races. She rode 11 winners in the 1990/91 season and enjoyed another highlight when winning the Tripleprint Handicap Hurdle on Peatswood at Kempton’s 1993 Christmas meeting, getting up on the run-in to beat Richard Dunwoody on the favourite Beyond Our Reach. She rode what was to prove her last winner over jumps on Mick Channon’s Rowlandsons Gold in a Fontwell selling hurdle on March 22, 1994. It was not her final winner though, for she also rode Channon’s filly Glowing Jade to land a professional lady riders’ Flat race at Redcar on May 9, 1994, beating Alex Greaves’ mount Waterlord by a length.
Lorna had her final ride, aged 36, on Ray Hawker’s mare Malford Madam, pulling up in a Chepstow novices’ hurdle on April 24, 1995. Soon afterwards she left for America for what was meant to be a six-month stint riding jumpers for leading trainer Jonathan Sheppard, but she found the jumping scene there very different to that in Britain, most of it being similar to point-to-pointing, which wasn’t what she wanted to do. Sheppard sent her to Delaware Park where she
Lorna had her final ride, aged 36, on Ray Hawker’s mare Malford Madam, pulling up in a Chepstow novices’ hurdle on April 24, 1995. Soon afterwards she left for America for what was meant to be a six-month stint riding jumpers for leading trainer Jonathan Sheppard, but she found the jumping scene there very different to that in Britain, most of it being similar to point-to-pointing, which wasn’t what she wanted to do. Sheppard sent her to Delaware Park where she
started riding work and was soon making a decent living as a valued work rider. She also rode work at Gulfstream Park in Florida and Arlington Park in Chicago for top trainers such as Nick Zito.
started riding work and was soon making a decent living as a valued work rider. She also rode work at Gulfstream Park in Florida and Arlington Park in Chicago for top trainers such as Nick Zito.
She began ponying horses to the start in the afternoons at Delaware Park in 1999 and formed her own business under her married name of Chavez, based at Gulfstream Park in the winter and Saratoga in the summer. She became a familiar sight at both tracks with her signature black helmet cover adorned with pink bunny ears and a pompom.
She began ponying horses to the start in the afternoons at Delaware Park in 1999 and formed her own business under her married name of Chavez, based at Gulfstream Park in the winter and Saratoga in the summer. She became a familiar sight at both tracks with her signature black helmet cover adorned with pink bunny ears and a pompom.
Sadly, in 2016 she had a horrific spill in Florida, breaking her pelvis, riding for a trainer who was not covered by workmen’s compensation at the time. As a result, she was turfed out of hospital after six days with the expectation of physio and rehabilitation to follow. None did, and she was left with huge medical bills and the additional expense of having to bring a lawsuit against the trainer.
Sadly, in 2016 she had a horrific spill in Florida, breaking her pelvis, riding for a trainer who was not covered by workmen’s compensation at the time. As a result, she was turfed out of hospital after six days with the expectation of physio and rehabilitation to follow. None did, and she was left with huge medical bills and the additional expense of having to bring a lawsuit against the trainer.