Giant leap for Gabby's girl as Lois Logan swaps showjumping for horse racing at Glorious Goodwood
Her mother Gabby is a former Commonwealth Games gymnast and commentator, who has just landed a plum role as one of the three hosts of Match of the Day.
Her father Kenny is a retired Scotland rugby union international, who now runs a sports marketing company, and her twin brother Reuben is also a professional rugby player.
And now, Lois Logan has proven that sport runs through her genes as well, after the 19-year-old showjumper signed up to ride at Glorious Goodwood on July 31.
Lois, who is studying geography at Loughborough University, is one of 15 amateur female jockeys training for the 2025 Markel Magnolia Cup.
All are in the running to race down Goodwood's home straight, with a final field of 12 riders set to be selected after the British Racing School holds standard riding and fitness assessments next month.
The race, which has raised more than £2.7 million for charitable causes since its inception in 2011, is this year supporting The King's Trust International Project Lehar.
The scheme aims to empower adolescent girls in the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh through vocational training, skills development and promoting gender equality. Lois said: 'My dream has always been to be a showjumper. I remember the 2012 Olympics when Team GB won, and I was just like: "I really want to do that."
'As a family, we're really involved in sport. But horses are very different from anything my Mum had seen before.
'It's taken her some time to understand it as a sport. Her mind will be blown by racing, I think. My dad is a bit more savvy because he grew up around horses and animals.'
Lois was inspired to take part in the race by 2019 winner Khadijah Mellah and friend Eleanor Franchitti, who competed last year.
'I never thought it would be a possibility for me,' added Lois, who lives with her parents in Buckinghamshire. 'It didn't really cross my mind.
'I'm a showjumper which is really different to racing. Even when Goodwood DM'd me on Instagram and reached out to me and said: "Can we have a chat?", I still didn't put two and two together. Then when they asked me, I said: "Yes! Absolutely."
'I'm just going to go into it, enjoy the whole thing and obviously do the best I can.'
Other contestants taking part include Nina Barbour, chatelaine of Bolesworth in Cheshire, and US author Christy Cashman, who lives in Kilkea Castle in Ireland.
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