The Top Books About Female Jockeys

When it comes to singling out a few good books from everything so easily accessible today, it can be
difficult to narrow it all down to what to explore first.
The world of female jockeys in horse racing has made for several inspiring stories. Below, we explore
just some of what we consider to be must-reads for every fan of the sport.

Rough Magic

Full title, “Rough Magic: Riding the World’s Loneliest Horse Race”, this incredible book is the
brainchild of Lara-Prior Palmer, a self-professed life-long lover of horses.
At the inexperienced age of only 19, Palmer happened quite by accident upon a website dedicated
to the world’s longest and toughest horse race.
The Mongol Derby is the ultimate test of skill and endurance. The annual race consists of riders
making their way across 1,000 kilometres of untamed Mongolian grasslands – while racing twenty-
five wild ponies.
Typically, riders would spend years preparing to compete in the gruelling event. Palmer, however,
had no formal training. She was driven only by her love of horses and a drive to achieve something
remarkable.
What the book does so masterfully is to fully intertwine the personal experience of Palmer with the
cultural history of the race. This approach completely transports the reader to one of the remotest
corners of the globe – a place where wild horses roam free.

Riding For My Life

Female jockey Kathy Kusner’s “Riding for My Life: My Journey as the World’s Only Female Jockey” is
the story of a true pioneer in women’s horse racing.
In her book, Kusner recounts her successes as well as her struggles while fighting for the right to be
accepted with total equality in a male-dominated sport.

My Animals And Other Family

In her book “My Animals and Other Family”, author Clare Balding shares with the reader stories from
her childhood – and specifically stories about the horses and dogs that played a significant role in her
young life.
The book is a biography, and in it, Balding invites the reader into a life of growing up with a father
who trained horses for a living, and a grandmother who believed women to be second-class citizens
of society.

The book is cleverly constructed because of how the chapters are named, and simply a great read for
anybody in love with horse racing, horses and even the online betting activities that are such a big
part of the races.

Sheikh’s Batgirl

While “Sheikh’s Batgirl: The Story of a Lady Jockey” is a work of fiction, it’s still a fantastic read.
Authored by Tania Kindersley, the book tells the fictional tale of a young woman named Clare
Masters.
Clare becomes a jockey in England, and the book vividly explores the challenges faced along the way
as well as various relationships formed.
Jockey Girl
Shelley Peterson’s “Jockey Girl” is a brilliant young adult novel.
It tells the story of a young girl named Rosie – someone absolutely determined to become a
professional jockey despite the many prejudices faced along the way. This is a wonderful book and
so very relevant to the world of the female jockey.