Clare Lindop was the first female jockey to win the VRC Derby and the first female Australian jockey to ride in the Melbourne Cup.
With 1,432 wins, including four at Group 1 level, and five jockey premierships, Clare left an indelible mark on Australian racing.
Lindop retired as a jockey in 2018 but is still heavily invested in the racing game and speaking with SEN’s Sam Edmund, the champion jockey reflects on her career in the racing industry, a career that achieved so much.
“I think in the fullness of time it’s probably more special now, you know now that I have finished my racing career and looking back,” she told SEN’s This Is Your Journey – thanks to Tobin Brothers.
Being a female jockey inevitably came with more exposure and Lindop looks back on the impact that had on a young hoop.
“I had really good opportunities and I had a lot of support from a lot of good trainers, I really felt accepted by my colleagues,” she said.
“It’s the same for a young guy as it is for a young girl to start and get your opportunities, people always said to me, ‘What’s it like being a girl in a man’s world?’, and I found that a really frustrating question because I couldn’t really answer it.
“I had lots of opportunities and in some ways being a girl gave me more attention, the fact that I ran 18th in a Melbourne Cup in 2003 changed my life, whereas a young guy riding in the Cup may not have had the same effect on him.
“In some ways it was good, but it also did detract from me doing my job, it used to drive me nuts to be honest.”
Reflecting on that Melbourne Cup ride in 2003 on Debben for Leon Macdonald, Lindop reflects on that “life-changing event” and the attention she received leading up to the race.
“It was a life-changing event for me … it was one of those absolute dream come true moments. To hear that I’d been selected to ride in the race just blew me away,” she said.
“For me to ride in the Melbourne Cup was a pretty big deal and I didn’t even realise the amount of media attention I would get so it was just a whirlwind for the next 48 hours.
“I just let myself really enjoy it. To be a part of that race just changed my life for me.”
So what does life look like now for Clare Lindop?
She now works for Racing South Australia as the industry, development and training officer where she gets to pass on her wisdom to the racing industry.
Listen to Lindop’s story on This Is Your Journey – thanks to Tobin Brothers below: