Probably the most prestigious award in English sport is the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
And the incredible, phenomenal, astonishing achievements of jockey Hollie Doyle have her on the coveted list to win the 2020 version this year.
That is a fantastic achievement and deserves massive recognition. I truly hope, and ALL racing folk around the world should join me in this, that she wins.
Up against her are names like, Formula 1 superstar Lewis Hamilton, World Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury and English cricket great Stuart Broad.
“It’s hard to get my head around being nominated alongside the likes of Lewis Hamilton, but I’m really pleased that horse racing has been recognised alongside these sports,” she said.
It’s a tremendous boost for thoroughbred racing – globally!
But all that spotlight on her, which no doubt will be highlighting the day she rode five winners on the same card at Windsor, was also the first female to ever ride a winner on Champions day at Ascot, landing over 100 winners in one year etc, begs the question.
Is she the best female rider on earth?
I appreciate that COVID-19 is inhibiting air travel, but just imagine if we could get a race card where Hollie Doyle competed against Australia’s two superstars Rachel King and Jamie Kah, as well as Canada’s astonishing Emma-Jayne Wilson and Japan’s record breaking Nanako Fujita who is the only woman to ever ride 100 winners in a calendar year in Japan.
Throw in New Zealand’s Alysha Collett who is a rising force, Australia’s Kathy O’Hara who has been under-rated all her career yet still rides masses of winners, and West Australia’s Lucy Warwick a veteran of many Gr 1 rides, and we have a competition.
Rachel King rode four winners at Rosehill last weekend and is forming a record that make her look freakish.
Jamie Kah was a fast-closing 3rd in the latest Melbourne Cup and she rode five winners at Moonee Valley recently on the same card.
Bring out former multiple Gr 1 winner England’s Hayley Turner and invite Aussies Jess Taylor, recent Gr 1 placegetter Winona Costin and the great Gr 1 Melbourne Cup pioneer Michelle Payne to ride at the meet as well.
I’d happily go along and watch them battle it out.
Good luck, Hollie Doyle. The award is announced 20 December.
It would look a sublime compliment to her recent Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year Award she won!
