Female jockeys make history in SA's biggest race

Model Anlia Etzebeth with Wish List, who is drawn No 7 in today's main race. Etzebeth is dressed by Durban designer Katherine Kidger. Wish List is trained by Justin Snaith and ridden by Andrew Fortune and is currently the joint favourite at 11/2.

Rachel Venniker will be riding Choisaanada in today's Hollywoodbets Durban July.

FOR the first time in history, two female jockeys will take part in the main race in one of the country’s biggest sporting events, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, later today.

Durban’s Rachel Venniker and French jockey Mickaëlle Michel will be in the saddle in Race 7, the main event of the day, with a purse of R10 million. The event is expected to attract more than 45 000 spectators from across South Africa and contribute close to R1 billion to the eThekwini economy this year.

Venniker, 24, who is South Africa’s top female jockey, will be riding Choisaanada, a bay gelding trained by Erico Verdonesse.