Every year, the percentage of girls seeking a career in the saddle increases, while the boys seem to be dropping out in droves. Maurice Logue, the man responsible for recruiting jockeys for Racing NSW, has said that by 2020 males will be the “tokens” in the sport. Racing’s draconian weight scales seem to work in the girls’ favour. While the young men suck on ice cubes and dine on grapefruits to make the weight, most of the girls can ride in the low 50kg range with ease. Lindop told us she rides “with a big breakfast under my belt”, something the men could only dream about.

They still do it particularly tough, however. At some country racetracks, the women’s toilet is a hole in the ground. Their changeroom is often a shed with a “female” sign bunged on. Many of their employers have been in the game for more than half a century and their thoughts on gender relations play out accordingly. Country jockey Robyn Freeman-Key told Fairfax that some race clubs would put moisturiser and flowers in the change room and that one owner once sent her lingerie as thanks for a great ride! “It’s not acceptable,” she said. “We’re doing the same job. We don’t get drinks. We don’t get food. You don’t get told when the race is called out to mount up. We are forgotten.”

After watching this short news clip aired on Channel Ten last year about the continual charge of female jockeys in Australia, race (boom-tish) to your nearest news agent, catch our November edition and enjoy the rest of Jonathan Horn’s superb article titled “Outside Barriers”.