The Racing Life of Sophia Upton

‘I’d loved to have had a go at race riding twenty years later but I don't know how I’d have fared. It's so different now with fitness, nutrition, jockey coaches...all improvements!’ There is no regret in Sophia Upton’s words, just the complete opposite. ‘It's easy to be older and wiser now. If I see a young jockey struggling or having a bad day, I try to pick them up with a kind word – some encouragement can make that difference.’

Racing has given Sophia, 53, everything: two successful careers, the love of her life, a family...

Her parents, Richard and Elsie Mitchell, trained in Dorset, winning the 1989 Kim Muir with Cool Ground and breeding Rooster Booster, the Champion Hurdle winner in 2002. Sophia’s bother’s Nick and Tim were both amateur jockeys; Tim rode for the Barbers’ and won the Cheltenham Foxhunters’ in ‘97 on Fantus whilst Nick trained The Listener and Ellerslie George.

Sophia rode in races at a time when there wasn’t a long list of female jockeys. At one point, she was the only female professional jockey and she won two Lesters awards for Lady Rider of the Year in ‘96 and ’99. Sophia recorded her first National Hunt winner on Kalamoss in April ‘93 at Taunton, and made all on Major David Chappell’s Printers Quill at Bath in August ’96 to win her first race on the Flat.

This career as a jockey also led to a few brushes with celebrity. Sophia was a guest on Good Morning Britain for a makeover. ‘I was so small, they couldn’t find me an outfit that fitted and had to pin clothes to me, which still looked awful. Nicky Clarke cut my hair but it was as if he styled it on himself and it wasn’t very manageable under a skull cap.’ There was also an appearance on The Big Breakfast to promote Royal Ascot alongside hosts Kevin Bacon and Liza Tarbuck.

Later on, she lived opposite former Page 3 model Melinda Messenger and is currently close neighbours to actor Chiwetel Ejiofor of Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy fame.

Yet, Sophia puts much more significance that racing, specifically friendship with her older brother Tim, introduced her to future husband Guy Upton. ‘We were at Nedge Point-to-Point in 1986 and I was smitten. I had a huge crush on him.’ Next year, they will have been married two decades, and have been together thirty-five years in total. Guy, also a former jockey who rode more than 250 winners, is now a BHA Steward and they have two sons, Richard, an amateur jockey for Joe Tizzard and Patrick, who is studying for A-Levels and a talented footballer. She owns a Jack Rusell terrier called Sherbert and seventeen-year-old grey Dreamsoftheatre, a winner of ten races. ‘He’s good at promoting ROR and I schooled him the other day, which was my first time in ten years,’ laughs Sophia.

The 2018 JET's Achievement Award

Photo Credit: Racing Post.

Having once tried race commentary, before subsequently joining the BHA starting team, Sophia was the big winner at the 2018 JETS’s Richard Davis Awards, claiming the Jockey Club Achievement for thriving in this role. ‘It's a huge privilege to win this award in Richard's name as I knew him as a jockey,’ Sophia said at the time. ‘I feel very proud to have come so far in my second career already.’

In June ‘13, Sophia was one of the organisers of a charity evening at Cheltenham Racecourse, raising over £100,000 for seriously injured amateur JT McNamara and the IJF. In ‘15 and ’22, she completed the London Marathon in aid of racing charities. There’s no clearer proof that Sophia Upton gives back to the sport that has given her so much.

Did you have a horsey childhood? Whilst growing up at my parents’ racing stables in Dorset, I was petrified of my 11.2 called Dinky. I absolutely loved racing and being involved with racing but I didn’t ride as a young child.

When I was fifteen, we were based at Whitcombe Stables, Dorset. Mum and Dad gave me one last chance to learn to ride by getting me a good pony called Midsummer Sadie. I found out years later that they secretly watched me as I rode her round the paddock behind the house and when I cantered her up the bank behind the stables. Within eight months, I rode in my first point-to-point on a horse who was fourteen, Run To Me. He’d been placed in a Topham, both my brothers had won on him and Dad had ridden him in the National. I was only allowed to school him once as we couldn’t stop.

  In fact, I couldn’t hold anything. On the gallops, it was only a question of when Sophia came by! Then, the penny dropped and, one day, I held Celtic Royale.

Was it always inevitable that you’d work in racing? At school, I wanted to be a PE teacher. I loved the environment of racing but never saw myself as a jockey. In that era, there were very few females making a mark in racing but Lorna Vincent was the main one.

Trainers worked for: I was a conditional based at David Gandolfo, who gave me the majority of my rides. I also rode for Dad, Charlie Egerton, Ron Hodges and Arthur Barrow. I also rode winners for Oliver Sherwood, P Nicholls, and rode on the Flat for Willie Muir and once for Richard Hannon.

At Salisbury in July 2000, I was the first woman to wear the Godolphin blue. It happened by mischance when jockey John Reid didn’t get there to ride Muneefa. So, trainer Simon Crisford’s head of travelling Steven Avis (who ironically is one of my colleagues on the starting team) sorted me out as a replacement. I got chinned on the line but it was a good experience. That same evening, I also rode for Martin Pipe – so with rides for him and Godolphin, it was a very good night.

How do you reflect back on your career as a jockey? I rode fifty-nine winners out of more than 1800 rides over both codes and I am proud of what I achieved. I feel like I could have ridden more on the Flat but I'm not sure it would have made much difference at the time. If I’d focused on the Flat, would I have had a longer career – who knows?

My weight was always good because I'm little, and I was lucky to have had no injuries and I always worked hard. In that day and age, I travelled all over for the one ride. It always frustrates me when people say I did well for a girl. I got rides because I was a good rider, not because I was a girl who could ride. Against me, there was always about twenty lads having the same chances as that one girl.

Favourite racecourse as a jockey: Newton Abbot because I had a lot of luck there.

Favourite racehorses: I had plenty of favourite racehorses so it's tricky to pick one. Through different parts of my life, I've had different favourites.

I won four on Kalamoss, who was 14.2 and used to go flat out.

       Kittenkat, our homebred, won about eight for Dad. I would have retired on her but got beaten by a head in the ‘03 Devon National.

I won on Rooster Booster over hurdles. If I only had known what a Champion Hurdler felt like! But, I certainly felt some difference at Taunton when I was fifteen lengths clear turning for home – Dad went mad! He was our homebred, grew up on the farm and was feral! I'll always be proud of what Rooster Booster achieved. After we finished third in the Persian War in 2000, Terry Warner approached Dad, who then sold him.

As a female jockey, did you ever meet any animosity? Plenty, but I let my riding do the talking.

Has racing ever taken you abroad? I've ridden in Ireland, had about seven rides on the Flat in Germany and was Champion Lady jockey in Jersey when riding for Joan Le Brocq – I was the only lady jockey there though! A group of eight of us girls were invited to race in Malta but it was scary riding on a concrete track and was not for the faint-hearted.

Most admired jockey: Richard Dunwoody.

When I was younger, I was very aware of some incredible point-to-point lady jockeys, like Alison Dare, Polly Curling, Pip Jones, and Jenny Litson to name a few…

How did the successes of Rachel Blackmore resonate with you? Rachel was on a different level and spectrum. I've a huge admiration for Rachel and Hollie Doyle, plus Hayley Turner too. Yes, I did the same job but nowhere to their ability.

How did you become a starter? At thirty-two, I retired from race riding to have children. Even though I'd continued to ride out, I found being a mother cost me my identity. When the boys were nine and seven, I wanted to return to working life.

A sessional position as a BHA Starter came up. It was a role I’d always liked the idea of – Judy Grange, David Hancock and Peter Haynes had all been good friends when I was a jockey and had all been starters. It was daunting to go to London for the interview, which actually was my first ever interview.

(1 and 2) The first female jockey to wear the Goldohpin blue and with Guy

Describe your role: I work full time so 200 days a year and I'm based in the Midlands. I drive an average of 40,000 miles a year. As there are only sixteen full-time starters, we also cover holidays, which means we can travel anywhere.

When the horses and jockeys arrive at the start, starters check medical cover is in place and check headgear. On the Flat, we give the stalls handlers the order that runners will be loaded and aim for it to be as safe for all horses and jockeys. Over jumps, we check girths.

It's very important that races mustn't go before time, so we synchronise watches to London time every day. We work as a pair and share the day – if there are eight races, we will start four each.

Best aspect to being a starter: I love that it keeps me racing and being involved with the best horses and jockeys.

Seeing the young jockeys come through as well as their ability and manners. I have admiration for all the lads and girls, such as Gina Mangan and Rose Dawes, Jack Doughty etc.

Training for the 2015 London Marathon, triumphant after finishing in '22 and Sophia with her favourite tipple rosé

Worst aspects to being a starter: The hours spent on the road are difficult. But the worst thing is when a horse or jockey gets injured in the stalls. The stalls handlers are excellent at their jobs so, luckily, an accident is a rarity.

Favourite racecourse as a starter: You can't beat Cheltenham. It’s a pleasure to be down at the start at the Festival and you feel in a completely different zone. There's absolute silence, and they’re all good horses and all good jockeys. It is an honour to be there as a starter.

If I want a busy night, there's Bath and Chepstow on the Flat – neither are quiet and lots goes on!

Favourite meeting as a starter: Over the last two years, I was lucky enough to do Royal Ascot, which was pretty phenomenal. Four years ago, I started my first Group One in the Eclipse at Sandown. In such good meetings, the loading process goes very smoothly, which proves the time that’s spent on good horses.

Advice to anyone wanting to pursue a different career within racing: Don't be frightened to send in your CV or go for an interview. If you don't think you're up to it or your skills aren't good enough then you and your skills are! Your day-to-day involvement in racing gives you skills for life. You'll get the job because you're good enough for the job.

Best racing celebration: I should say the Lesters’ parties but I don't remember those! So, it’s AP McCoy’s 4000^th winner party. When Robbie Williams came on to sing, I ran to be at front of the stage. I admit to rubbing his leg and shaking his hand!

Favourite meal: In Pollenca with a seafood paella and a bottle of dry rosé.

Favourite drink: In winter, Majestic’s The Guv’nor red wine and in summer, dry Cotes de Provence rosé. Plenty of strong tea too!!

Favourite snack: I love a Picnic chocolate bar.

Favourite holiday destination: Pollenca in Mallorca or Parga in Greece.

Favourite book: Me Before You by JoJo Moyes.

Favourite film: Big with Tom Hanks.

Favourite music: Stereophonics. I've seen them five times. In July, Guy and I went to see them in Cardiff, when they were supported by the Blossoms, who are one of Guy's favourite bands.

Other hobbies: Walking the dog, reading on holidays, going to the cinema when we get the chance. My boys would say ‘eating!!’ as I love my food. I enjoy listening to the radio, especially the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio on weekday mornings.