Young female jockey Rachel Venniker has made history on two counts, both overseas and at home! She became the first SA female rider to win a big riding competition in Saudi Arabia and on Saturday, became the first female jockey to race in the Durban July!
Durban, South Africa (09 July 2024) — On the heels of making history for South Africa in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, rising star jockey 22-year-old Rachel Venniker prepared to do the same on home soil after it was all systems go for her to become the first female jockey racing in the Durban July.
Although Rachel presented herself with a calm, cool and nonchalant attitude toward the historic moment in the interviews leading up to the massive moment that she considered “another race with a fancy name”, fans of hers didn’t hesitate to beam with unapologetic pride for her milestone moment on 6 July.
Considering that the Durban July is a 128-year-old event, it’s astounding that it’s taken quite this long for a moment like Saturday when history went down. However, for Rachel and fans of the event across the world, it was a ‘better late than never’ experience on more than one count, adding the fact that Rachel has been damn-near close to breaking this glass ceiling (more than once) before.
In 2022, the young rider was set to make her debut at the event when a whiplash misfortune struck. In 2023, a situation with her chosen horse also caused Rachel to miss out on the event. And this year, her horse ‘Without Question’ was scratched from the racing roll call. But, third time was still the charm for Rachel who teamed up with horse ‘Hluhluwe’ where the two made their way to 11th position for their racing event.
This barrier-breaking moment, coupled with Rachel becoming the first South African female rider to win the Invest Saudi International Jockeys Challenge Stakes, has put her on the world’s radar, and we can’t wait to see her gallop to even greater heights.
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