Amy Coltherd’s partnership with Oscar Wilde a story well worth following

Not every trainer’s child wants to leap into a racing saddle at the age of 16.

Sam Coltherd, son of Scottish Borders licensed trainer Stuart, grabbed the chance, scored on his first ride and subsequently became a professional jockey, but his older sister Amy held back. That was until Stuart bought seven-year-old Oscar Wilde from Sue Smith’s yard at Doncaster for £7,000 in May last year.

This article first appeared in the Racing Post on Friday 9th December.

Amy says: “The plan was to run him under Rules, but he needed a wind operation and then had back problems. I had always wanted to try a point-to-point, but I’m probably not the most confident person. Then [in February] Dad said, ‘Let’s run Oscar in a point-to-point to see how he goes’.

“It was a horrible wet day at Friars Haugh [in Kelso] and it felt quite daunting – we didn’t know if Oscar would like the ground, stay the trip or if the wind op had worked. Sam gave me a few tips including don’t get left at the start and Dad said. ‘Just go out, get round and enjoy it’.

“In the race I was following other horses and started thinking, either they’re getting slower or I’m getting quicker, so I decided to give him a kick to see what would happen.”

What happened was that Amy, at the age of 24, was about to win. She has ridden Oscar Wilde three times since and added another two victories, the latest at Hexham last month.

Tollit a legend

In an era when women’s sport is building audience it is laughable to think of the curbs women have experienced in racing.

Hunter chasing was providing equal opportunities and Festival wins for women years before Alex Greaves won a breakthrough Group One in 1997, yet there had been prejudice. Until 1974 women could only ride against men in their local members’ point-to-point which meant other opportunities were restricted to the ladies’ contest, and not every meeting staged one. That made the 171 winners ridden by Pat Tollit between 1948 and the early 1970s an exceptional feat. She also took time out with a broken leg and when giving birth to three daughters.

The legendary Pat Tollit, who died earlier this month aged 90 (photo: Carl Evans)

Her mother, Ruth, had ridden side-saddle in races before WWII, and there were no helmet chin straps for much of Pat’s time in the saddle, so it cannot be said women were risk averse. Tollit was the leading woman rider six times and became a byword for the sport, particularly in the West Midlands. She handed down a legacy to her children and grandchildren who have competed.

Tollit, who until last season rarely missed a local meeting, died at the age of 90 on Sunday 4th December. It is not hype to say the sport has lost a legend.