An Interview with Mary Maude – Ernest Cooper Macmillan Ride of their Lives Jockey 2026
- Jo O'Neill
- 7 hours ago
- 5 min read
On June 13th, York Racecourse held the 55th Ernest Cooper Macmillan Ride of their Lives, which headed the eight-race card. The twelve jockeys, who raised over £115 000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, were an assorted bunch. Becky, the granddaughter of Mick Easterby. Danny, a strength and conditioning coach from the Injured Jockey’s Fund’s Jack Berry House. Brian, who over forty years ago fed a Mars Bar to a racehorse in his care, causing it to fail the dope test and hit national headlines. Plus, sixth former Mary Maude…
Having grown up in the heart of the Cotswolds, racing’s influence was never far away due to the number of successful National Hunt trainers nearby. Also, Mary’s family connections to racing couldn’t have been more solid. Her mum Dolly rode on the Flat, was a track rider in Australia and ran a pre-training and point-to-point yard whilst Dad Chris rode over three hundred winners as a jump jockey before becoming a jockeys’ valet. ‘Dad doesn’t talk about being a jockey, but I can always remember him saying, “You can be whatever you want but you are not allowed to be a jockey or date a jockey”,’ laughs Mary.
Whilst studying for A-levels in Spanish, Psychology and Business Studies, Mary, 18, described her weekday routine: ‘I finished school at 3:30, spent two hours revising in the library and then went to the gym’. In preparation for the charity race, she also rode out at Max Comley’s Warminster stables, getting up at five to arrive on time. With exams and charity race both over, Mary is working in the farm shop, The Cotswold Guy, to save as much money as possible. ‘I am taking a year out and have a one-way ticket to Australia for the end of September. Then, I’ll travel to South America, namely, to talk Spanish.’
Despite Mary insisting that she 'isn’t motivated enough to pursue a career in racing’, she has already proved otherwise by being so committed to studying, fitness, fundraising, riding in a charity race as well as planning her travels.
Did you have a horsey childhood? Yes, lots of ponies and Pony Club, which was fun.
What experience do you have in racing? I have ridden out for Charlie Longsdon, Nigel Twiston-Davies and Jonjo O’Neill. During my season point-to-pointing, I mostly rode out for Max Comley. Nigel Twiston-Davies was also kind to me, letting me use the gallops and schooling fences.
Why did you pursue A-levels rather than racing? During my first year of A-levels, I was also riding my pointer. Then, having looked at uni courses and applying for Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea, I was offered a place at Bristol to study Spanish and International Relations with a year in Spain. It was too good an offer to turn down and it’s important to me to be able to speak two languages.
How did you sign up for Macmillan Ride of their Lives? I was with my mum, and Anthea Leigh, who is Racing Manager and Raceday Clerk of the Course at York, asked if I’d do it. I hadn’t ridden out for six months but said yes, especially when I realised it was the day after my last A-level. So, it seemed to work perfectly, but I didn’t factor in all the fitness and training. Despite being reassured that I’d be fine because I was young, it was actually quite difficult.
How did you qualify to ride in the race? I had to raise £4000 and pass a fitness assessment at Jack Berry House. The riding assessment day was during my exams, so jockey coach Carl Llewellyn assessed me on the gallops instead.
How did you get the ride on Mademoiselle Belle? Max Comley used to train next door, and he helped me with my pointer, Marton Abbey (nicknamed Marty). When he moved, we kept in touch – he’s like my older brother.
Max said to Mum he wanted to train a winner I’d ride and bought Mademoiselle Belle, keeping half ownership so she could run in the charity race. Louis Gill, of the Cotswold Film Company, owned the other half, and he was also very kind to let me ride her. She arrived four days before the race, so I only rode her once. The day before that, the head girl had fallen off her and then, at York, a jockey came up to me before the race and said, ‘Be careful, she ran away with me on the way down to the start’. Yet, she was absolutely fine and didn’t put a foot wrong.
Max kept reassuring me I had half a chance but after I sent him the race card, he told me just to have fun! He said she wouldn’t stay the distance, so just to look after her and that I may as well have a nice spin round York.
What were your thoughts about the race? I don’t get nervous and Max never gets nervous, but my dad gets nervous enough for all of us. I was always telling my parents to calm down! I think that falling off is one of those things you don’t know how much it hurts until you’ve done it.
Anyway, on the course walk with ex-jockey Paul Hanagan, who was helpful, we were advised not to hug the rail, but that was my plan. We hugged the rail for the first five furlongs, until turning in and everyone passed me. I knew if I had put her at the back, she wouldn’t have caught up, so I wanted to be up with the pace.
Did anyone give you any advice about race riding? My dad always gave me advice to keep me safe, never any help on being competitive. Max was the one who taught me how to ride a finish. Looking back, in my first point-to-point, I had no idea of what lay ahead – I’d schooled twice by myself but never upsides. My pointer was safe but quite lazy, so it was hard to work him alone.
Highlights of the day: It must be the race, which was great. The hardest parts were going down to the start, though the horses knew what they were doing, and being down at the start. Two people fell off and I was relieved to have had a bit of experience in point-to-points.
We received embroidered jackets, towels and engraved glasses, which are all lovely mementos.
R-L Mary with trainer Max Comely, Elen Wylie and parents Chris and Dolly, and on Mademoiselle Belle
Hopes and dreams for the future: To survive travelling!
Was the charity race your final foray in racing? As my travelling starts in Australia, I might ride on the track. At York, I joked that I’m the only person to have retired twice as a jockey by the age of eighteen!
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