Tuesday 10 November 2015 12:01, UK
Victoria Pendleton has praised “inspirational” Australian jockey Michelle Payne after the Melbourne Cup winner waded into the debate about sexism in horse racing.
Payne hit the headlines last week when she guided 100/1 shot Prince of Penzance to glory in the Melbourne Cup to become the first female winner in the event's 155-year history.
After the race Payne spoke of her struggles in what she called "such a chauvinistic sport'', and cyclist-turned-amateur jockey Pendleton says there's no reason why more women shouldn't be among horse racing's elite.
"I just couldn't believe Michelle had won, it was so inspirational," Pendleton told Sky Sports.
"I loved it and absolutely loved reading all the good press about it. And for her to be so outspoken as well, by talking about sexism in sport - good for her. I mean I've always seen myself as equal to my male counterparts and she just piped up and said it's not quite the same.
"Having spent a small amount of time working within the horse racing industry, I have always thought it's a little strange how lots of women are involved in the sport but they don't seem to progress to being jockeys.
"They do a lot of the work behind the scenes and you just wonder what the barriers are to stop them.
"Hopefully, she has made a massive change and inspired a lot of young female jockeys to give it a go because I do think it's a sport for women I have to say."
Double Olympic cycling champion Pendleton recently switched saddles and finished second on her competitive debut in August, but was unseated by Satanic Beat at Newbury last month.
"It was just one of those things that happen," she said.
"The ground really wasn't suiting the horse, the saddle slipped a little bit and the horse was finished. It was stumbling and I just lost my balance. It's such a tough thing to be in rhythm with a horse at that speed and I really appreciate now how easy jockey's make it look.
"I've fallen off a few times and it's part of the game. It goes with the territory. When I got involved they were like 'you know you're going to fall off', and you've got to be prepared to fall off.
"And it's the same with cycling, my dad told me, if you're not prepared to fall, don't race. So it's no biggie, I'll learn, I'll try and be better, and try and reduce the chances of it happening again but ultimately, it's a very challenging sport in that respect."
Pendleton escaped without injury and is training hard for the start of the point-to-point season later this month with the aim of fulfilling her dream of riding at the Cheltenham Festival next year.
"I am going to try my hardest to get there and no one is going to allow me to do it unless I am capable and ready," she said. I trust the team around me to guide me and if it doesn't happen this year, it doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying. "
Pendleton was speaking at SportsAid's annual Sportsball as the charity gears up towards celebrating 40 years of helping fund hundreds of elite young athletes annually.
"This is the first time I have come here as a jockey. I'm a different kind of rider with a different kind of saddle now," she joked.
"Sports Aid helped me out when I was an athlete so I really appreciate what they do and how important it is. The funding I received helped me with my training expenses so I know the difference they make to young athletes. It's great to meet all the athletes here and play a part in supporting them."
