Saffie Osborne made history on Saturday by becoming the first female jockey to win a British classic, riding Highwayman to victory in the 250th running of the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster. The 24-year-old’s triumph marked a significant milestone in the sport, which has seen limited opportunities for women in flat racing until recent decades.
Osborne, from Lambourn, navigated Highwayman to a decisive 2½-length win over stablemate Enceladus, with Amelia Earhart finishing third. The victory was particularly striking given Highwayman’s earlier performance this year, where the horse had placed well down the field in several races. However, a recent increase in race distance saw the horse’s form improve dramatically, resulting in back-to-back wins leading into the classic.
The St Leger, one of Britain’s five classic races and the oldest, celebrated its 250th anniversary on Saturday, and Osborne’s win represents a breakthrough moment amid a storied history in which women have only relatively recently been permitted to compete professionally. Women were not allowed to race on flat courses until 1972, nor to train horses until 1966, and only gained the right to vote in the United Kingdom in 1918.
Osborne comes from a family steeped in racing pedigree. Her father, Jamie Osborne, a former jockey and trainer based at Lambourn, achieved prominence as the leading rider at the 1993 Cheltenham Festival. Her mother, Katie O’Sullivan, is noted for her work as an equine artist. Saffie Osborne’s career highlights include individual and team gold medals at the 2018 European Pony Championships and early riding experiences under prestigious trainers such as Aidan O’Brien in Ireland and Gai Waterhouse in Australia. She recorded her first victory on a horse trained by her father in 2020.
Despite her promising beginnings, Osborne’s career has faced significant setbacks due to injuries sustained in a severe fall in 2020 and several other interruptions. Nevertheless, she demonstrated resilience by returning to high-level competition and ultimately achieving historic success at Doncaster.
In the race, Osborne maintained a close position behind the pace-setting leader, Action, ensuring she was never further back than fifth as the field entered the final stages. Highwayman’s sustained acceleration allowed him to overtake favored horses Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard, both from Aidan O’Brien’s stable, asserting dominance in the closing furlongs.
Following the race, Osborne expressed her astonishment and gratitude, acknowledging the confidence placed in her by Joseph O’Brien and his team. She also credited her family and agent for their unwavering support.
The event was hosted by Martin Cruddace, chief executive of Arc, which manages the Doncaster venue, who used the platform earlier in the day to address government policies relating to betting shops. Alongside Osborne’s historic win, the meeting highlighted other emerging talents, including Desert Castle, a Frankel colt positioned as a future 2,000 Guineas favorite, and Darkness Falls, another promising prospect trained by Aidan O’Brien.
Saturday’s St Leger not only celebrated a landmark anniversary but also heralded a new chapter in British flat racing with Osborne’s remarkable achievement breaking longstanding barriers for women jockeys in the sport.