First British Muslim girl jockey makes debut at Goodwood

The primary British Muslim girl to win a horse race in Britain has made her newbie debut.

Khadijah Mellah, then aged 18, made historical past by profitable the Markel Magnolia Cup in 2019, months after using a horse for the primary time.

On Friday, she rode in her debut race as an newbie jockey at Goodwood Racecourse, ending sixth.

“I hope that it is a assertion that outsiders and other people from totally different backgrounds can actually push to proceed to progress and exceed expectations, and hopefully journey extra winners,” she mentioned.

“That is hopefully the primary journey of many.”

The 24-year-old, from Peckham, took half within the Homosexual Kindersley Memorial Beginner Riders Handicap race on the horse Uncle Dick.

“Individuals say it goes by so shortly, however I did not realise simply how shortly,” she mentioned.

“It was an enormous buzz, an enormous thrill.”

By collaborating within the Markel Magnolia Cup in 2019 – an all-female, novice charity occasion – Ms Mellah grew to become the first hijab-wearing jockey to win a horse race in Britain.

Since then, she has helped arrange the Using A Dream Academy – an initiative to assist younger folks from various communities and deprived backgrounds become involved in horse using.

“I’ve been overwhelmed with a lot love and help,” Ms Mellah added.

“I’ve a extremely nice circle round me; it is taken a literal military to get me right here. Onto the following one [race].”