Female jockeys at Royal Ascot 2026

32 years passed between the first and second female jockey to ride a winner at Royal Ascot with Hayley Turner's 2019 success putting an end to the hiatus that was far too long following Gay Kelleway's 1987 win aboard Sprowston Boy.

Turner went onto strike three more times at the Royal meeting before her retirement in 2025.

Unfortunately, this year's meeting will be without the joint winning-most woman at the meeting Hollie Doyle. The 29-year-old suffered an injury earlier in the campaign that ruled her out of action for the immediate future, meaning she will have to wait another 12 months to surpass Turner's tally of four.

In 2023, Doyle became the first woman to ride a Group 1 winner at Royal Ascot when she steered Bradsell to glory in the King's Stand Stakes.

In Doyle's absence, we take a look at the female jockeys in action in 2026...

Josephine Gordon

Ever since her early days in the saddle, the talent that Josephine Gordon possesses has been abundantly clear to any keen watcher of Flat racing in the UK.

In 2016, Gordon became only the third female jockey to be crowned champion apprentice after Turner and Amy Ryan, going onto strike at Listed level or above on 10 occasions.

Trainer Keiran Burke has played his hand early ahead of next week, booking Gordon to ride his Ascot Stakes fancy Alrazeen on Friday.

Saffie Osbourne

Saffie Osbourne is one of the most promising riders in the UK at the moment and is sure to have plenty of nice chances over the five days.

She has quickly established herself as a go to jockey for trainers all across the country and Sean Woods has moved early to secure her services, booking her to ride improving filly Song N Dance in the Kensington Palace Stakes on Wednesday.

Osbourne, daughter of trainer Jamie, is yet to break through at Group 1 level but it looks to be a matter of time before she breaks that particular duck.

Most winners by a female jockey at Royal Ascot

Jockey	Number of wins
Hollie Doyle	4
Hayley Turner	4
Gay Kelleway	1