Justine is looking forward to Friday (photo: supplied)
After a year’s absence from the track, Justine King returns to the saddle this week.
We caught up with South Africa’s only remaining lady jockey.
About Justine
Justine, who hails from Pietermaritzburg, exchanged her dreams to be a CSI for a career in the saddle as a ‘spur of the moment’ decision after her grandmother took her on an outing to Turffontein. She says the minute she saw a horse, she knew being a jockey was what she wanted to do. She got her mother to enquire there and then, a helpful on course assistant pointed them to the SA Jockey Academy website and Justine enrolled in 2007.
The One And Only
What does it feel like being the only lady rider in the weighing room? “I think the title says it all, but then again, there’s so much to actually holding that title. It’s quite difficult getting rides, firstly. Secondly, I’m very light (Justine weighs 46kgs), which is supposed to be an advantage, but sometimes it’s a disadvantage, because horses are carrying much more these days and some trainers don’t like a horse carrying too much dead weight.”
Asked why she thinks there are less opportunities here, she muses, “I think a lot of people think females are not in it for the long haul and just give up, get married and have babies. Lisa Prestwood left, got married, had kids, came back and was brilliant, so it can be done. It’s not that we want to give up or feel we can’t do it anymore, but it can feel like you’re working your ass off and not getting chances when it comes to races. At the end of the day, women can do just as well as men – it’s been shown overseas that they can. The difference is that overseas women get the opportunities, which is something we lack here.”
She firmly believes there is a place for female riders in the jockey room. “There are downfalls and maybe females aren’t as strong as males, but the majority of the time, the jockey is only 10% of the result. If you know the horse and it’s got half a chance, you can get there – you just need the opportunity. You are only as good as your last ride, but how do you prove yourself if you’re not getting the opportunity?”
It was diminishing opportunities that made her relocate and try her luck in Durban last year. “I made the move during the July period, which was probably a mistake. I knew it would be hard, but thought it would be worth giving it a chance and having a change of scenery and mindset, etc. I did have carded rides, but because of the field sizes, they’d end up as reserves. I was driving from ‘Maritzburg to Summerveld to ride work which you don’t get paid for and not getting rides, so eventually I started losing hope.”
Tough Choice
She decided to have a total break, turning her hand to being a jockey agent. “I applied for my agent’s license in August. The NHA wouldn’t allow me to hold two licences, so in September I cancelled my jockey’s license in order to focus on being an agent.” Locally she represented Heavelon van der Hoven and Kendall Minnie, while securing riding contracts for Lucian Africa and Xavier Carstens in New Caledonia.
Reprieve
When the NHA amended the rules last November, she had her riding license reinstated, dusted off her saddle and returned to PE, slotting in with the Alan Greeff and Tara Laing yards. “I’m really grateful to Tara for giving me a ride and I also want to say thanks to Alan for always supporting me no matter what. Between him and Tara, I think I will have to buy them each a present!”
But she has also put in the hard yards. “In Durban you ride 5 or 6 in your first string and maybe another 5 in second string, so it’s quite easy. In PE you take 10-15 in the first string and similar for second string, so it’s a lot more strenuous. The first two days I could barely walk or get out of bed, but you push through it.”
Her determination has seen her rewarded with her first carded ride since February 2017 and she will be suiting up in the Fairview jockey room to partner Tara Laing-trained On The Bounce in race 9 on Friday.
“I’m actually quite excited, but I’ll just take it as it comes. My filly’s been working well and I know what I’m sitting on. It’s a competitive field, but at the end of the day, I am confident she will run a good race. I’m really grateful to Tara for the opportunity and I just hope it will open doors for more opportunities. I am accepting rides with open arms!”
