Cheltenham Festival winner's stepdaughter on hot streak commits future to Flat
Rookie rider Elizabeth Gale has committed her future to the Flat after riding her first winner at Ascot.
The 23-year-old followed her stepfather Brian Harding, who rode One Man to victory in the 1998 Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, into the jumps sphere as a teenager, riding 11 winners. She rode her last winner over hurdles at Ffos Las in May but since switching focus to the Flat she has rattled off ten wins, including one in Ireland.
Gale had her first ride at Royal Ascot last month and returned to the track on Friday to score for the first time at the track on Knights Gold in a £20,000 handicap for Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, to whom she is now apprenticed.
She made her switch with the intention of continuing to ride under both Flat and jumps codes but has decided to concentrate solely on the Flat.
'This will be my main focus over the summer and then I will look forward to the all-weather season over the winter,' said Gale.
'I might still have a few rides in bumpers where needed but for now it will be solely on the Flat side of things and improving my riding.
'When I was riding as a jump jockey things were very stop and start. Obviously there is a lot less jump racing so I would go through phases of getting momentum going and then have a quiet period, like every other jump jockey in the weighing room.
'Since moving to the Flat I've realised how much racing there is and how much opportunity and for me personally my riding improves the more regularly I am doing it. There are so many meetings that I am finding it a lot easier to improve. As an athlete I can get better quicker.
'I went into jumps because that was what I was brought up in. My stepdad won an Irish Grand National and Queen Mother Champion Chase so that's why.'
Gale has climbed up sixth place in the apprentice championship but believes her best shot will come in 2026.
'This year has been going so well that anything I get will be a bonus,' she said. 'Don't get me wrong I am still hungry for winners but I think with the 5lb claim next year would be the time have a real go at the apprentice championship.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Glasgow Times
Thurles to close with immediate effect
The first ever recorded race meeting at the County Tipperary circuit took place in 1732 and has been in the hands of the Molony family since the early 1900s. The late Pierce Molony took over the running of Thurles from his father Doctor Paddy Molony in 1974, but Pierce's widow Riona released a statement confirming the family's decision to retire from racing. She said: 'It has been an honour and a privilege for our family to have run Thurles Racecourse, and I am officially announcing our retirement today. 'We are very proud of the immense contribution our family has made to racing and we are most grateful to our extended racecourse family, our dedicated staff, generous sponsors, loyal patrons and the wider racing community for all your support. 'Horse racing is part of the fabric of our family, and we have been very fortunate to have made so many great friends within the industry over the years. My family and I look forward to going racing with you again, as spectators.' Although Thurles is fully licenced to race until December 31 and is scheduled to stage 11 fixtures in the 2025/26 Irish racing calendar, the Molony family have no plans to continue racing. Riona Molony added: 'Since my beloved husband Pierce passed away in 2015, with the help of our four daughters Patricia, Helen, Ann Marie and Kate and our wonderful staff, we've managed to keep the show on the road and I know he would be very proud of us for that. 'The girls all have their own families, careers and lives to live. Ever increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business has also been a major factor. 'We're going to enjoy this time together and relax now the decision is made and the news is out before we consider our options.' Thurles, which is Ireland's only privately owned racecourse, stages a number of high-profile races including the Horse and Jockey Hotel Chase, formerly known as the Kinloch Brae. The Grade Two contest has an illustrious roll of honour, having been won by the likes of Native Upmanship, Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Newmill, Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes Don Cossack and Sizing John and the top-class Allaho.
Rhyl Journal
a day ago
- Rhyl Journal
Thurles to close with immediate effect
The first ever recorded race meeting at the County Tipperary circuit took place in 1732 and has been in the hands of the Molony family since the early 1900s. The late Pierce Molony took over the running of Thurles from his father Doctor Paddy Molony in 1974, but Pierce's widow Riona released a statement confirming the family's decision to retire from racing. She said: 'It has been an honour and a privilege for our family to have run Thurles Racecourse, and I am officially announcing our retirement today. 'We are very proud of the immense contribution our family has made to racing and we are most grateful to our extended racecourse family, our dedicated staff, generous sponsors, loyal patrons and the wider racing community for all your support. 'Horse racing is part of the fabric of our family, and we have been very fortunate to have made so many great friends within the industry over the years. My family and I look forward to going racing with you again, as spectators.' Although Thurles is fully licenced to race until December 31 and is scheduled to stage 11 fixtures in the 2025/26 Irish racing calendar, the Molony family have no plans to continue racing. Riona Molony added: 'Since my beloved husband Pierce passed away in 2015, with the help of our four daughters Patricia, Helen, Ann Marie and Kate and our wonderful staff, we've managed to keep the show on the road and I know he would be very proud of us for that. 'The girls all have their own families, careers and lives to live. Ever increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business has also been a major factor. 'We're going to enjoy this time together and relax now the decision is made and the news is out before we consider our options.' Thurles, which is Ireland's only privately owned racecourse, stages a number of high-profile races including the Horse and Jockey Hotel Chase, formerly known as the Kinloch Brae. The Grade Two contest has an illustrious roll of honour, having been won by the likes of Native Upmanship, Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Newmill, Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes Don Cossack and Sizing John and the top-class Allaho.
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Thurles to close with immediate effect
The first ever recorded race meeting at the County Tipperary circuit took place in 1732 and has been in the hands of the Molony family since the early 1900s. The late Pierce Molony took over the running of Thurles from his father Doctor Paddy Molony in 1974, but Pierce's widow Riona released a statement confirming the family's decision to retire from racing. She said: 'It has been an honour and a privilege for our family to have run Thurles Racecourse, and I am officially announcing our retirement today. 'We are very proud of the immense contribution our family has made to racing and we are most grateful to our extended racecourse family, our dedicated staff, generous sponsors, loyal patrons and the wider racing community for all your support. 'Horse racing is part of the fabric of our family, and we have been very fortunate to have made so many great friends within the industry over the years. My family and I look forward to going racing with you again, as spectators.' Although Thurles is fully licenced to race until December 31 and is scheduled to stage 11 fixtures in the 2025/26 Irish racing calendar, the Molony family have no plans to continue racing. Riona Molony added: 'Since my beloved husband Pierce passed away in 2015, with the help of our four daughters Patricia, Helen, Ann Marie and Kate and our wonderful staff, we've managed to keep the show on the road and I know he would be very proud of us for that. 'The girls all have their own families, careers and lives to live. Ever increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business has also been a major factor. 'We're going to enjoy this time together and relax now the decision is made and the news is out before we consider our options.' Thurles, which is Ireland's only privately owned racecourse, stages a number of high-profile races including the Horse and Jockey Hotel Chase, formerly known as the Kinloch Brae. The Grade Two contest has an illustrious roll of honour, having been won by the likes of Native Upmanship, Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Newmill, Cheltenham Gold Cup heroes Don Cossack and Sizing John and the top-class Allaho.
