Jockey Josehine Gordon among winners at 2017 Lesters awards
Friday 29 December 2017 18:39, UK
Josephine Gordon was voted Lady Jockey of the Year at the 2017 Stobart Lesters awards after riding a record 106 winners.
Gordon had a tremendous campaign which saw her become only the second lady jockey to ride over 100 winners in a calendar year after Hayley Turner.
She now intends to build on that and break into the top 10 professionals in 2018.
"Part of my goals this year was a Listed winner and a Group winner, which I achieved as well," Gordon told At The Races.
"I'm always setting myself targets. I haven't really sat down yet and thought of next year and what my goals are going to be. Obviously in the next year I'd like to aim to be a top 10 jockey and maybe one day be champion jockey."
The winners were announced on At The Races as no ceremony could be arranged due to fixture-list clashes.
Champions Richard Johnson and Silvestre de Sousa were named Stobart Jump Jockey and Flat Jockey of the Year respectively.
Champion conditional jockey Harry Cobden received the Lester for Conditional Jockey of the Year and Kieran Shoemark was presented with the Apprentice Jockey of the Year.
At The Races and Racing UK viewers chose Derek Fox's ride on One For Arthur in the Randox Health Grand National as their Jump Ride of the Year while Callum Rodriguez's ride on Nakeeta in the Betfred Ebor at York won the Flat Ride of the Year award.
The two special recognition awards were presented to two stalwarts of the weighing room who announced their retirements earlier this year with Jimmy Fortune taking the Flat honours and Paul Moloney receiving the jumps recognition award.
Andrew Tinkler, Stobart Group's executive director, said: "The contribution of jockeys to the sport of horse racing is hugely valued and we at Stobart are delighted to play a part in honouring these fine sporting stars.
"We are very much looking forward to the event coming back next year on December 22 and to support the PJA in hosting another fantastic evening of celebration for their members."
Nigel Payne, chairman of the Professional Jockeys Association, said: "Recognition by one's peers is the best recognition of all and each of those jockeys who won this evening will be thrilled and will cherish the honour."
