Teenager Makes History as First Female Black British Jump Jockey
A 19-year-old from Gloucester is poised to make sporting history on Monday by becoming the first female black British jump jockey to compete in a professional horse race. Aamilah Aswat will partner the horse Guchen, trained by the Grand National-winning stable of Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls, in the JCB Handicap Hurdle at 2pm at Kempton Park.
The Debut Ride and the Horse
Aswat's mount, Guchen, is a five-year-old owned by the Friends of the Ebony Horse Club and is priced at 12-1 for the race. The horse has run five times previously, securing one second-place and two third-place finishes. This race marks his first outing under a conditional jockey, with Aswat claiming a valuable 10lb weight allowance.
Trainer Kim Bailey commented on the debut, stating, "Aamilah has been with us at Thorndale for about three years. Although she finished second in the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood last year, this is her first professional ride."
A Decade-Long Dream Realised
Aamilah Aswat's journey to this landmark moment began in her hometown of Gloucester, where she first learned to ride at St James’s City Farm under the guidance of Imran Atcha. She progressed to pony races with the Pony Racing Authority before her talent was recognised by a pioneering scholarship programme.
In the 2021-22 academic year, she was selected for the inaugural Riding A Dream Academy scholarship. This initiative, sponsored by The Jockey Club, was established to support young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds into horse racing, inspired by Khadijah Mellah's 2019 Magnolia Cup victory.
Following the scholarship, Aswat completed the Foundation Course at the British Racing School before securing her position with the Bailey and Nicholls yard, where she has worked for the past three years.
Speaking about her debut, Aamilah said, "I’ve been dreaming of this moment for so long, for over ten years, so it feels very surreal for it to actually be coming true. I am really looking forward to the race and have schooled Guchen a couple of times; he’s a lovely horse. I am trying to stay as chill as I can. There are so many people that have supported me to get to this stage and I am so grateful to Kim and Mat for giving me this chance."
Naomi Lawson, director of the Riding A Dream Academy, expressed immense pride in Aswat's achievement. "Our aims when setting up the Academy were to support more young people from diverse ethnic communities into the sport," Lawson said. "We always knew it would take time for individuals to come through and make it to the jockey ranks, and so Aamilah’s achievement in getting her professional license is such a landmark for us. We could not be prouder of her and hope this is the beginning of a wonderfully successful career."
