Hollie Doyle Reaches Historic 1,000th Career Win at Goodwood

In a remarkable milestone, jockey Hollie Doyle secured her 1,000th career win at Goodwood on Tuesday, riding Leyhaimur to a decisive victory. This achievement marks another historic moment in the career of the trailblazing 27-year-old, who has redefined what’s possible for female jockeys in the sport.

Doyle’s journey to this landmark win has been nothing short of extraordinary. Since her first victory 11 years ago, she has consistently shattered records, including breaking the record for most winners ridden by a female jockey in a calendar year in 2019 with 116 triumphs. Her tenacity and skill have since propelled her to the forefront of the racing world, both at home and abroad.

Just last month, Doyle added another Group One win to her résumé, guiding Bradsell to victory in the prestigious Nunthorpe Stakes at York, bringing her total European Group One wins to nine. However, the road to 1,000 winners was not without its challenges. After a winless day at Brighton on Monday, Doyle needed a double at Goodwood to reach the milestone. She delivered, first claiming victory on Almaty Star in the five-furlong handicap before sealing her 1,000th win on Leyhaimur in the fillies’ nursery.

Reflecting on her achievement, Doyle expressed her gratitude for the support she has received throughout her career. “Never when I started off my career did I imagine I would ride this many winners,” she told Racing TV. “I’m just really grateful for all the support I’ve had so far; from trainers, owners, my agent – they’ve done a great job for me so far, even though I’m probably a nightmare to work for.”

Doyle’s success is even more impressive considering the rapid pace at which she has achieved it. While Hayley Turner, the first British-based female jockey to reach 1,000 career wins, took 23 years to do so, Doyle reached the milestone in less than half that time. Despite this, she remains grounded, focusing on the future and her ambitions to continue excelling in the sport.

Since her breakthrough in 2020, when she secured her first Royal Ascot win on Scarlet Dragon and her first Group One victory on Glen Shiel, Doyle has become a dominant force in horse racing. Her accolades include being named the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year and finishing third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, further cementing her status as one of the sport’s brightest stars.

Doyle’s partnership with trainer Archie Watson has been pivotal to her success, but she is quick to acknowledge the contributions of other trainers, such as Dave Evans and Richard Hannon, who played crucial roles in her development as a jockey. Her dedication and work ethic have seen her ride over 100 winners every year since 2019, with her best season to date in 2021, when she rode 172 winners.

Looking ahead, Doyle is focused on adding more Group One victories to her name and harbors the dream of becoming champion jockey. “Obviously, I want to ride as many Group One winners as I can; I think that’s every jockey’s dream. My ultimate dream was to be champion, but I know that’s very hard. I want it enough and I’ve got the work ethic for it; it’s just whether I’m capable or good enough.”

As Doyle continues to break barriers and set new standards in horse racing, her remarkable achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring jockeys everywhere. With her 1,000th win now secured, all eyes will be on Hollie Doyle as she embarks on the next chapter of her already stellar career.