First female rider to utilise sex allowance

Newly crowned SA Champion apprentice rider Rachel Venniker made history at Hollywoodbets Greyville today when she became the first female rider in South Africa to utilise a recently legislated 1,5kg sex allowance.

• Race 2 - 2nd place on AMERICAN STYLE
• Race 3 - Didn't place on NAME OF THE GAME
• Race 4 - joint 4th on RUNNING RIFLES
• Race 6 - 5th on TRACK COMMANDER

The recently amended rule 54.14 states that in the case of a female Apprentice, the allowance shall be 4Kg until the end of the racemeeting in which the Apprentice has ridden her 20th winner; thereafter the allowance shall be 3Kg until the end of the racemeeting in which the Apprentice has ridden her 40th winner and thereafter 2Kg until the end of the race meeting in which the Apprentice rides her 50th winner. Thereafter there shall be a permanent female sex allowance of 1.5Kg for the remainder of her riding career.

"The core issue is the lack of opportunity for female jockeys, who have been denied equality of opportunity in terms of numbers and quality of rides by an anti-female bias. France (albeit the only other country) likewise has a 1.5kg allowance for female jockeys, and the France Gallop has been proved right in introducing the allowance for the reasons advanced."

"The rule is designed to ensure transformation of the jockey ranks and will hopefully have the effect of growing female participation, thereby creating sustainability of their participation. The amendment has followed due process, which includes ample consultation."

"The plan is to attract, promote and retain female jockeys. I congratulate the management and board of the NHA on the introduction of this enlightened, fair and just rule, concluded Costa."

See full article in the Sporting Post: New Champ Rachel Makes History Today.