For many racing fans, Guineas weekend signals the true beginning of the Flat season, as the best three-year-old colts and fillies line up in pursuit of Classic glory in the 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
2,000 Guineas
Since the inaugural running in April 1809, there have been no officially recorded female-trained winners of the 2,000 Guineas.
That said, history adds an important footnote. The 1956 winner Giles de Retz was trained by Helen Johnson Houghton, but at the time women were not permitted to hold licences under Jockey Club rules. Officially, the credit went to her assistant, Charles Jerdein. Her achievement was belatedly recognised in 1977 after she became one of the first women admitted to the Jockey Club alongside Priscilla Hastings and Ruth Wood, Countess of Halifax.
Fast forward seventy years, and there was a sense that history could repeat itself with her granddaughter, Eve Johnson Houghton, aiming the talented Zavateri at the race. Unfortunately, the colt was ruled out of the race last week due to a setback.
When it comes to the saddle, the record is just as striking.
Despite the race’s long history, a female jockey has never ridden the winner of the 2,000 Guineas. This statistic is put into stark relief when we consider the fact that there has only ever been one female rider in the race itself:
Saffie Osborne, who finished 8th aboard Ten Bob Tony in 2024.
It’s a remarkable statistic for the modern sporting era, considering how many talented female riders are available, and one that underlines just how slowly representation has filtered into racing’s most traditional spaces.
1000 Guineas
First run in April 1814, there have been four female-trained winners of the 1,000 Guineas with the first coming in 1983.
Three of those came from one of the most accomplished modern day trainers, Criquette Head-Maarek, who struck with:
Ma Biche (1983)
Ravinella (1988)
Special Duty (2010)
The fourth was Pam Sly, who produced Speciosa to win in 2006 at 10-1.
While female trainers have made their mark sporadically, opportunities for female jockeys in the 1,000 Guineas have remained limited.
To date, only three have ridden in the race:
Josephine Gordon – 14th in 2017
Hollie Doyle – 6th in 2024
Hollie Doyle – 9th in 2025
In the 2026 renewal, Saffie Osborne became the 3rd individual female jockey to ride in the race aboard Touleen, owned by Shadwell and trained by Owen Burrows, finishing 6th.
The history books show that progress has been made, but only in small steps. As more opportunities emerge at the highest level, we hope to see that racing continues to broaden the range of names we see competing at the very top of the sport.