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6. How did you keep yourself occupied and motivate yourself during your serious injury in April 2021?

I was off for six months, I don’t know what I would have done without all my animals and chickens, they kept me busy, I even hatched some turkeys. I also did an online midwifery course; I am not fully qualified, but it is something that I am really interested in and a career I would love to explore when I stop racing.

7. Pros and cons of horse racing? 

Winners are great, but not winning can be very disappointing. It is also risky, and injuries do happen which can set you back for a while. Sometimes it can be hard work and my schedule is busy, but I enjoy keeping busy and active.

8. What does racing give you, mentally and physically? And what fitness and what qualities do you need specifically?

I love the adrenaline buzz when you ride a winner, there really is no feeling like it. It is also mentally stimulating because you are so busy and always on the move. Being a jockey is a way of life, you have to keep fit and keep your head straight to be the best you can be. My fitness consists of a lot of running and riding out (exercising the horses), and race riding also keeps you very fit too. It is important to be doing one or the other, so if I am not racing, I am running or in the gym. I go to the gym as much as possible at one of the Injured Jockey Fund centers which is a gym for jockeys, but I work this around my racing schedule. You definitely need to have dedication as racing can be up to seven days a week, so you need your body to be at peak fitness all the time.

9. To anyone thinking about it, or curious, why give horse racing a go?

Racing is an amazing sport, and it is very pleasing, you have some really good days. You honestly don’t feel like you are working, you get up in the morning to do a job you love.

10. A day in the life?

I wake up 5:30am, and I am out the door at 6am, I ride out at racing yard (where horses are cared for and trained) and go racing from there. I will leave the racing yard mid-morning to drive the racecourse. Depending on how many rides I have and where I am, I’m usually home by 5pm.

11. You’ve spoken up about the disadvantage some female jockeys may find, not having separate changing rooms was a factor to begin with. Can you explain this a little more for us?

Racing is a unique sport as men and women compete against each other on a level playing field and in recent years there has been more success stories of women riders. In the sport they have improved the changing facilities for women, this was necessary as it is now a growing sport for women. Hopefully improved facilities can bring out the best in us female riders. Some of the changes aren’t quite adaptable yet, but the sport is always working to make it all fair.

12. Best career moment to date and why?

Riding out my claim (75 winners) in November last year and riding my Cheltenham winners. Riding out my claim has been a goal of mine for a long time, so I was really happy to achieve this. Cheltenham is also my local track, so not only is it an amazing achievement to win there, but it holds personal value too.

Lilly Pinchin will be riding during one of Britian’s Premier Raceday fixtures, The Cheltenham Festival (12-15 March) . To find out more visit www.greatbritishracing.com/premier-racedays/