Clare Lindop recalls her famous Victoria Derby win on $101 hope Rebel Raider and how she celebrated with ‘trophy girls’ in the female jockeys’ room
It’s been 15 years since Clare Lindop’s famous win in the Victoria Derby aboard a $101 roughie, and her memories reveal how far the sport has changed for female riders.
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Clare Lindop shattered the glass ceiling for female jockeys and a glimpse into the jockeys’ room when she won the Victoria Derby 15 years ago reveals just how much times have changed.
Lindop, already the first female to ride in the Melbourne Cup and the first Aussie female to win a Group 1, scored the 2008 Group 1 Victoria Derby on $101 roughie Rebel Raider.
She had company in the female jockeys’ room at Flemington before and after scoring the famous victory, the biggest upset in the race’s proud history.
And it wasn’t other jockeys.
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“It was just accepted back then that the jockeys’ room for the girls wasn’t just for the jockeys, it certainly wasn’t really a professional sportsperson’s room,” Lindop said.
“Back in those days, there were models who were twins who were paid to be the trophy girls on the day.
“The models just used the female jockeys’ room as their change rooms during the day.
“So some of my memories of winning the Derby were celebrating in the room with the models.
“I got to know them really well and they were lovely, it was like I had my own little cheer squad.
“But, looking back, it was unprofessional to have them in the room. It wouldn’t be allowed these days. I’m glad things have changed.”
Lindop was a trailblazer for female jockeys including the likes of Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne and Group 1 star Jamie Kah.
During Lindop’s jockey career, she says she often became annoyed when she was asked questions about being a female jockey.
She simply wanted to be known as a jockey.
But, now she has retired from riding, Lindop truly appreciates the significance of her Derby win and how it was well received at the time even by punters who lost the shirts off their backs.
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“I knocked a heap of punters out of the quaddie, because just about everyone had Whobegotyou ($1.75) one out in the quaddie,” Lindop smiles.
“But I got a really warm reception when I came back to the scales, because I think people realised they were witnessing history.
“It was more than just being about the first female jockey to win the Derby, I was a battler from Adelaide.
“Rebel Raider was considered so little a chance that my dad actually backed it at $301 the day before.
“Looking back now, I probably handled things badly because I used to get annoyed with the media asking me about being a female jockey.
“If I handled the media better, I would have got more coverage and maybe more opportunities.
“But in some ways not wanting to be known as a female jockey, wanting to be known as a jockey, made me more respected by my peers.”
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After her incredible Derby win, Lindop got to rub shoulders with US rocker Chris Isaak in the sponsor’s tent at Flemington.
Isaak told her he backed Rebel Raider and so too did plenty of women who came up to Lindop post-race.
But Lindop couldn’t spend long enjoying the moment as Bart Cummings had just announced her as the Melbourne Cup rider for Moatize who had won the Saab Quality on Derby Day and had just 50kg in the Cup on Tuesday.
“At that time, I was riding at 55kg in a comfortable saddle,” Lindop said.
“So from then on, all I ate was strawberries until the Melbourne Cup.
“There was very little celebrating my Derby win.”
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Moatize subsequently finished sixth in the 2008 Melbourne Cup which was won by another Cummings horse, Viewed.
Despite the status of her Victoria Derby win, Lindop feels becoming the first female jockey to ride in the Melbourne Cup five years earlier was more significant for female riders.
It was the first of Makybe Diva’s three Melbourne Cups and Lindop rode Leon Macdonald-trained Debben which finished 19th as a $201 chance in 2003.
That was 20 years ago and, in some ways, Lindop feels her mere Cup booking that day helped to blaze a trail for female riders.
“I feel that made more of a difference to females riding in big races than me winning the Derby,” Lindop said.
“It really felt like 2003 was a pivotal moment.
“In a personal sense though, the 2008 Derby was the highlight of my career as it put me on the map globally.
“I’m able to be respected wherever I go because of that, it has given me the platform to go and do other things.”
Lindop, who retired from the saddle in 2018, is currently working in a career development role with Racing South Australia.
Originally published as Clare Lindop recalls her famous Victoria Derby win on $101 hope Rebel Raider and how she celebrated with ‘trophy girls’ in the female jockeys’ room
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