Gender politics in racing
April 25th 2008 09:16
Perhaps gender prejudice has been no worse in horse racing than other fields of employment and endeavour. It has taken many years for equal opportunity to work its way through many professions. But the theatre of horse racing makes any battle for equality, any battle for recognition, something played out in the public eye. Something under scrutiny and something for comment.
If you look at any pony club or similar you will find that its numbers are predominantly made up of ‘horse-mad’ young girls. The attraction to the horse for women and girls is mostly different to the utilitarian use that attracts boys and men. The male loves the speed and the ensuing competition. Betting and race. The female is attracted by beauty and grace.
This opens up a conversation of gender stereotypes, and gender politics in sport (and beyond).
It has been a long and protracted battle for women to take their place silk by silk with their male jockey counterparts. The initial reluctance born of the difference in strength between men and women. And (so the claim would go) as with other professional sports a man and woman would not compete in a mixed battle. As good as you believe her to be (and as strong as she looks) Serena Williams has lost to male tennis players ranked 300 or more in the world. No woman could compete with any male of equal or comparative ranking. Male strength and stamina will always prevail. Even in golf the best female players have tried. And failed. Perhaps only in car racing would gender allow for even competition between male and female. But once again I notice that there are few women competing at the elite level (F1) in car racing, although more in other disciplines of driving, such as rally competition.
This truism was enough to ensure few opportunities for women in the early years after gaining the right to ride professionally in races against men. No trainer (or owner) would put them on their horse. But race riding is more than brute strength. In modern racing (especially) riders urge their mounts rather than sitting down (as they once did) and hitting behind the saddle as much as possible to enforce a winning attitude and stride. Now jockeys will often put the whip away and urge with hands and voice.
There are less women represented in jumping race (hurdles and steeplechases). I suppose (as a man) I have the same response to the danger and the more likely casualty of this aspect of the sport as I do to women boxers. I can appreciate the balletic movements and dance routines of martial arts (kata), but I don’t like watching women slug it out in a boxing ring. Of course other people will have an opposite opinion, but public interest (and female participation) puts me firmly in the majority view on this matter. The danger, crash and crush, of riding over jumps, is akin to boxing, rather than the discipline and dance of an eastern martial art (flat racing).
There have been many very talented female jockeys in recent years. In Australia the Payne family have provided us with talented sisters, Michelle, Therese, Bernadette and Brigid (and also the sublime talents of brother Patrick Payne, one of the best riders I have seen).
In 1969 Diane Crump became the first woman to rise in a parimutuel race in the US. Women now ride in all racing precincts and major races and win premierships and feature races. I doubt if the day will come that women will ever dominate (by success or number) in racing. But given the change in a few short decades I might be willing to have a small bet on it if the odds were good enough.
female jockeys
Race riding is mostly about the athlete beneath: the horse. There is more than pure strength required to restrain, control and urge a thoroughbred. While women lose in one respect (pure strength) they can compensate if blessed with balance and timing.
In most sports there are a parallel competitions for men and women. More equal in the sport of tennis where men and women play as a team (mixed doubles) against another team, but less equal in sports like soccer and basketball where mixed teams are not the norm. So it is laudable that women do have success as jockeys (and I suppose we can keep the horse power analogy going with driving success in cars).
Below is a report from the time detailing the tennis match and challenge between the Williams sisters and Karsten Braasch (then ranked 203 and plummeting). Karsten smoked between games and did not over exert himself. I only reproduce this in response to a blog (Sportingo Tennis) that stated that Serena Williams could defeat both Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, as well as many of the males on tour. Rubbish.
Serena to beat Roger?
MELBOURNE, Australia -- It was the Battle of the Sexes without all the glitz, a daring bid by Serena and Venus Williams to back up their bold claim that they could beat any man ranked No. 200 or lower.
Not even close.
The sisters discovered, much to their chagrin, they're no match for the men on the ATP Tour. At least not yet.
First Serena, then Venus challenged No. 203 Karsten Braasch to a set apiece at the Australian Open on yesterday, and he beat them both. Serena fell 6-1, Venus 6-2. They played as intensely as they could, while Braasch performed with gentlemanly restraint.
"It was extremely hard," said 16-year-old Serena. "I didn't know it would be that hard. I hit shots that would have been winners on the WTA Tour, and he got to them easily."
That didn't stop her from boasting that, "this time next year I'll beat him. I have to pump some weight. ... I have to work hard to be on the men's tour."
Venus, 17, wasn't about to concede too much, either, especially since she broke Braasch once.
"I can beat men in the 300s and up," she said. "He thought we couldn't get a point. He didn't think we could play. We showed him we could."
Braasch smiled at their claims.
"Against anyone in the top 500, no chance," he said. "Because I was playing like 600 today."
If you look at any pony club or similar you will find that its numbers are predominantly made up of ‘horse-mad’ young girls. The attraction to the horse for women and girls is mostly different to the utilitarian use that attracts boys and men. The male loves the speed and the ensuing competition. Betting and race. The female is attracted by beauty and grace.
This opens up a conversation of gender stereotypes, and gender politics in sport (and beyond).
It has been a long and protracted battle for women to take their place silk by silk with their male jockey counterparts. The initial reluctance born of the difference in strength between men and women. And (so the claim would go) as with other professional sports a man and woman would not compete in a mixed battle. As good as you believe her to be (and as strong as she looks) Serena Williams has lost to male tennis players ranked 300 or more in the world. No woman could compete with any male of equal or comparative ranking. Male strength and stamina will always prevail. Even in golf the best female players have tried. And failed. Perhaps only in car racing would gender allow for even competition between male and female. But once again I notice that there are few women competing at the elite level (F1) in car racing, although more in other disciplines of driving, such as rally competition.
This truism was enough to ensure few opportunities for women in the early years after gaining the right to ride professionally in races against men. No trainer (or owner) would put them on their horse. But race riding is more than brute strength. In modern racing (especially) riders urge their mounts rather than sitting down (as they once did) and hitting behind the saddle as much as possible to enforce a winning attitude and stride. Now jockeys will often put the whip away and urge with hands and voice.
There are less women represented in jumping race (hurdles and steeplechases). I suppose (as a man) I have the same response to the danger and the more likely casualty of this aspect of the sport as I do to women boxers. I can appreciate the balletic movements and dance routines of martial arts (kata), but I don’t like watching women slug it out in a boxing ring. Of course other people will have an opposite opinion, but public interest (and female participation) puts me firmly in the majority view on this matter. The danger, crash and crush, of riding over jumps, is akin to boxing, rather than the discipline and dance of an eastern martial art (flat racing).
There have been many very talented female jockeys in recent years. In Australia the Payne family have provided us with talented sisters, Michelle, Therese, Bernadette and Brigid (and also the sublime talents of brother Patrick Payne, one of the best riders I have seen).
In 1969 Diane Crump became the first woman to rise in a parimutuel race in the US. Women now ride in all racing precincts and major races and win premierships and feature races. I doubt if the day will come that women will ever dominate (by success or number) in racing. But given the change in a few short decades I might be willing to have a small bet on it if the odds were good enough.
female jockeys
Race riding is mostly about the athlete beneath: the horse. There is more than pure strength required to restrain, control and urge a thoroughbred. While women lose in one respect (pure strength) they can compensate if blessed with balance and timing.
In most sports there are a parallel competitions for men and women. More equal in the sport of tennis where men and women play as a team (mixed doubles) against another team, but less equal in sports like soccer and basketball where mixed teams are not the norm. So it is laudable that women do have success as jockeys (and I suppose we can keep the horse power analogy going with driving success in cars).
Nikita Beriman wins Group 1 race 2007
Below is a report from the time detailing the tennis match and challenge between the Williams sisters and Karsten Braasch (then ranked 203 and plummeting). Karsten smoked between games and did not over exert himself. I only reproduce this in response to a blog (Sportingo Tennis) that stated that Serena Williams could defeat both Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, as well as many of the males on tour. Rubbish.
Serena to beat Roger?
MELBOURNE, Australia -- It was the Battle of the Sexes without all the glitz, a daring bid by Serena and Venus Williams to back up their bold claim that they could beat any man ranked No. 200 or lower.
Not even close.
The sisters discovered, much to their chagrin, they're no match for the men on the ATP Tour. At least not yet.
First Serena, then Venus challenged No. 203 Karsten Braasch to a set apiece at the Australian Open on yesterday, and he beat them both. Serena fell 6-1, Venus 6-2. They played as intensely as they could, while Braasch performed with gentlemanly restraint.
"It was extremely hard," said 16-year-old Serena. "I didn't know it would be that hard. I hit shots that would have been winners on the WTA Tour, and he got to them easily."
That didn't stop her from boasting that, "this time next year I'll beat him. I have to pump some weight. ... I have to work hard to be on the men's tour."
Venus, 17, wasn't about to concede too much, either, especially since she broke Braasch once.
"I can beat men in the 300s and up," she said. "He thought we couldn't get a point. He didn't think we could play. We showed him we could."
Braasch smiled at their claims.
"Against anyone in the top 500, no chance," he said. "Because I was playing like 600 today."
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