Female jockeys have rejected Tony McCoy’s suggestion women riders should receive a weight allowance because they are not as strong as men.
The now-retired champion jumps jockey was reacting to the claims by Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne, who labelled the sport chauvinistic following her history-making success last week.
“The female jockeys are very, very competent riders but perhaps a woman should receive an allowance like a filly does in a race,” McCoy said in his blog for William Hill.
“It’s a very physically demanding sport and they’re not going to be as physically strong as a bloke. They can’t be.
“Tactically they can be as good but if it comes down to strength in a finish, a woman is not going to be as strong as a man. There aren’t many sports where women compete against men and on a day-to-day basis are women as physically strong as men? No they’re not. It’s just fact.”
But leading female rider Cathy Gannon believes it would be a backwards step after years of striving to be accepted on an equal footing.
“I don’t think it would be fair,” she said.
“We want to compete with the boys on a level playing field and it would cause ructions if we were given an advantage.
“We’ve been trying to say we’re as good as the boys for years so it would be a backward step in my eyes.”
Lizzie Kelly, second in a Grade One in France last week, wrote on Twitter: “I hope this doesn’t happen, I wouldn’t do any of the weights!”
Grade One-winning Canadian rider Emma-Jayne Wilson said: “Brilliant idea – if strength were the only attribute #jockeys required to be successful. #Haveyouseenmewin.”
Sophie Doyle, the sister of top British rider James Doyle who is currently making a name for herself in America, tweeted: “Why? We have already proven ourselves, it comes down to being educated and dedicated about fitness as an athlete in this sport!”
